SMOKING and TEENAGERS SMOKING AMONG TEENS in the

SMOKING and TEENAGERS

SMOKING AMONG TEENS in the UNITED STATES n n n 4. 5 million kids aged 12 -17 smoke. Each day, more than 3, 000 kids become daily smokers. Most teen regular smokers report some level of addiction and withdrawal.

WHAT IS THE LEGAL AGE FOR SMOKING? 18

HOW MANY TEENAGERS SMOKE? Percent of students Cigarette smoking: 12 th graders Students who smoked one or more cigarettes in the past month White Hispanic Black

CONSEQUENCES of SMOKING n n Nearly 440, 000 people die each year because of smoking. Smoking kills more Americans every year than car accidents, alcohol, cocaine, crack, heroin, homicide, suicide, fire, and AIDS combined.

CAUSES of DEATH in the U. S. Tobacco Poor diet and exercise Alcohol Infections Pollutants/toxins Firearms 1 in 5 DEATHS are caused by TOBACCO Sexual behavior Motor vehicles Illicit drug use Percentage of all deaths Smoking can harm YOU and OTHERS.

WHAT’S in TOBACCO SMOKE? 4, 800 chemicals in tobacco smoke n Harmful gases n Tar n Lead n Nicotine Many are PROVEN to cause cancer

A diseased lung showing emphysema, characteristic of smoking

FORMS OF TOBACCO n n n Cigarettes Smokeless tobacco: snuff, chewing tobacco Pipes Cigars Clove cigarettes Bidis

SMOKING AND QUITTING 7 of every 10 smokers want to quit! About 3 in 100 quit for good What does this mean? Tobacco is VERY addictive, and it’s hard to quit, even if you want to quit. NICOTINE, in tobacco, makes people become addicted to smoking

Release of “pleasure” chemicals Stimulates brain receptors Nicotine enters brain

GETTING HOOKED on TOBACCO FIRST USE: Tastes bad; dizzy, nausea NEXT FEW USES: Not as bad, getting used to it MONTHS LATER: Smoking more regularly, start craving it A YEAR or MORE LATER: Hooked and can’t quit

TOBACCO and PERSONAL APPEARANCE n Bad breath n Hair and clothes stink n Stains teeth

TOBACCO and ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE NICOTINE/SMOKING: n n Narrows blood vessels, puts extra strain on your heart Harms lungs, reducing oxygen availability during exercise n Causes shortness of breath n Can’t run as fast or as far

HOOKED on TOBACCO? n n NEW SMOKERS SUFFER: n n n Coughing Difficulty breathing Lung infections Increased resting heart rates Increased likelihood of stronger addiction, the younger they start

HOOKED on TOBACCO? HOOKED AND CAN’T QUIT YOU SMOKE: § As soon as you wake up § When stressed § With friends § Automatically § To concentrate, for energy WHEN YOU CAN’T SMOKE: § Irritable, restless § Impatient, nervous § Tired, can’t sleep well § Can’t concentrate well § Crave a cigarette above all else

HOOKED on TOBACCO? n n n AFTER SEVERAL YEARS of SMOKING n n n n Cancers Heart diseases Lung diseases Stroke Slower healing & recovery after surgery Eye diseases Sexual dysfunction Bone loss Lipid profile changes Difficulty getting pregnant

WHY DO TEENS START SMOKING? n Advertisements n Their friends smoke n People in their family smoke n Rebel against parents, others

TOBACCO ADVERTISEMENTS n n n Cigarette companies claim they do not advertise to kids Recently, Phillip Morris claimed it is a changed company and that its goal is “to responsibly market our products to adults who choose to smoke” Cigarette companies cannot stay in business unless kids smoke

HELPING TEENS STOP SMOKING n Difficult to do—teens get addicted, too n Can’t use nicotine patches or gum n Teen stop-smoking programs n Best way is prevention… DON’T START!

HELPING TEENS STOP SMOKING 70% of all teen smokers wish they had never started

WHAT CAN YOU DO to AVOID TOBACCO ADDICTION? n Make a commitment. n n n Commit to NOT using tobacco, EVER. Decide that you do not want your life to be ruled by an addiction. Know the truth. n n Despite all the tobacco used on TV and in the movies … most teens, adults, and athletes don’t use tobacco. Don’t let the tobacco industry fool you.

WHAT CAN YOU DO to AVOID TOBACCO ADDICTION? n Do any of your friends or family members smoke or use tobacco? n n n YES: Encourage them to quit NO: Encourage them to stay tobacco-free. Get involved in sports and other activities. n Students who are involved in extracurricular activities are less likely to use drugs or tobacco.

WHAT CAN YOU DO to AVOID TOBACCO ADDICTION? n n Spend your money on things other than tobacco. Get involved: n n Spread the word about the dangers of tobacco use Start or join an activist group against smoking

IT COSTS A LOT TO SMOKE Buying cigarettes every day for 50 years @ $4. 12 per pack Money banked monthly, earning 1. 5% interest $331, 467 $220, 978 Packs per day $110, 489 0 100 200 300 Hundreds of thousands of dollars lost 400