Tobacco

Form

Tobacco comes in the form of brown, cut up leaves that are either smoked (cigarettes, cigars, and pipes), dipped, or chewed.

When and Why it is Used

Nicotine is the most widely used addictive drug in the United States today. An estimated 60 million Americans smoke, and of these 4.1 million are between the ages of 12 and 17. People smoke for a variety of different reasons, from relaxation to stress prevention.

Other Facts

Most widely used addictive drug in the United States.

Four of the five leading causes of death in the United States are linked to smoking.

Daily smokers and chewers are exposed to nicotine 24 hours a day due to the fact that nicotine stays in the body all day and overnight. Nicotine goes straight to the brain and can effect the body for up to 30 minutes.

Quick Facts
Health Risks
How to Quit

Slang Terms:
Smoke, Cigars, Cigarettes, Spit Tobacco, Dip, Chew

Short Term Effects:
· Increase in blood pressure
· Increase in heart rate
· Carbon monoxide causes blood to carry less oxygen
· Stimulation is followed by fatigue and depression
· Imbalance in the demand for oxygen

Long Term Effects:
· Many different varieties of cancer
· Chronic bronchitis
· Emphysema
· Chronic lung disease
· Heart disease
· Bad hygiene
· Impaired sense of taste and smell

Smoking during pregnancy greatly increases the risk for low birth weight, stillborn or premature births, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Also, children of pregnant smoker also have greater risk of developing behavioral problems.

Smoking greatly increases the chances of Heart Disease, which is the number one cause of death in the United States.

The health of non-smokers is greatly affected by environmental tobacco smoke. Each year exposure to tobacco smoke causes the death of 3, 000 non-smokers and causes lower respiratory tract infections in up to 300,000 children.