Tobacco has been used in tribal rites across the globe (new guinea is another example that comes to mind), because nicotine is a poison that in the right (/wrong) doses will alter consciousness.
Huffing volatile solvents will also alter consciousness and deliberate use of these 'drugs' (the word drug was used in Shakespearean times to refer to a poisonous plant, not a mind altering substance fwiw) can cause the sort of delirium associated with a safer, more pleasant psychoactives - but i sure as hell wouldnt advise anyone attempt this.
Nicotine overdoses can be lethal; habitual tobacco smoking is associated with countless health problems which will lead to a horrible death (cancer, emphysema, heart disease to name but a few). Plus its a pretty filthy habit, imo.
I dont say that to judge smokers - its just something best left alone or experienced on rare occasions. Tobacco addiction is notoriously hard to break, and has very few - if any - benefits.
Smoking was ridiculously romanticed and encouraged during the first half of the 20th Century, but we now know how dangerous and pointless it is. Addicted people derive comfort in getting a nicotine fix, but this is different from any sort of 'high', which in my opinion is completely lacking (or else tobacco would've been banned long ago, right?)
Haha, well said keif.