SMOKINGSMOKING

TOBACCOTOBACCO

TOBACCOTOBACCOTobacco is a tall, leafy annual plant, Tobacco is a tall, leafy annual plant,

originally grown in South and originally grown in South and Central America, but is now Central America, but is now cultivated worldwide.cultivated worldwide.

There are many species of tobacco There are many species of tobacco and the species and the species Nicotiana Nicotiana tabacumtabacum is the specific plant used is the specific plant used to produce cigarettes.to produce cigarettes.

TOBACCOTOBACCOTobacco contains a drug called Tobacco contains a drug called

NICOTINE.NICOTINE.

Nicotine is the addictive agent in Nicotine is the addictive agent in cigarettes and it is the drug cigarettes and it is the drug responsible for the smoking habit responsible for the smoking habit that so many people have.that so many people have.

NICOTINENICOTINENicotine is a central nervous Nicotine is a central nervous

system STIMULANT. Due to its system STIMULANT. Due to its highly addictive properties, it highly addictive properties, it can cause severe withdrawal can cause severe withdrawal symptoms.symptoms.

These symptoms can include: These symptoms can include: depression, irritability, anxiety, depression, irritability, anxiety, and craving for more nicotine.and craving for more nicotine.

TOBACCOTOBACCOTobacco smoke contains “tar”, Tobacco smoke contains “tar”,

which is the name given to the which is the name given to the solid particles found in smoke.solid particles found in smoke.

About 90 % of the content of About 90 % of the content of cigarettes is plant material, but cigarettes is plant material, but the other 10 % is a combination of the other 10 % is a combination of known poisons and cancer-known poisons and cancer-causing substances, called causing substances, called carcinogens.carcinogens.

WHAT’S IN A CIGARETTE?WHAT’S IN A CIGARETTE?Have you ever wondered what Have you ever wondered what

cigarettes are actually made of? cigarettes are actually made of? Many of the ingredients found in Many of the ingredients found in cigarettes are found on shelves in cigarettes are found on shelves in your garages – in fertilizers, your garages – in fertilizers, pesticides, and other poisons.pesticides, and other poisons.

There are over 4000 different There are over 4000 different chemicals in cigarettes!chemicals in cigarettes!

WHAT’S IN A CIGARETTE?WHAT’S IN A CIGARETTE?At least 50 of the chemicals found At least 50 of the chemicals found

in cigarettes can cause cancer in cigarettes can cause cancer (tar, ammonia, carbon monoxide, (tar, ammonia, carbon monoxide, benzopyrene, etc.).benzopyrene, etc.).

In Canada, approximately 1/3 of all In Canada, approximately 1/3 of all cancer-related deaths is due to cancer-related deaths is due to lung cancer. Smoking is a major lung cancer. Smoking is a major cause of cancers of the mouth, cause of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and lungs.throat, esophagus, and lungs.

EFFECTS OF SMOKINGEFFECTS OF SMOKING

Short-Term Effects

• Heart rate and blood pressure go up• Faster breathing• Dizziness• Vomiting• Reduced fitness and athletic ability

Long-Term Effects

• Cancer (lung, mouth, throat)• Respiratory disease• Heart attack• Stroke• Stomach ulcers

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASECARDIOVASCULAR DISEASETobacco use is the leading cause of Tobacco use is the leading cause of

PREVENTABLE disease and PREVENTABLE disease and death in Canada!death in Canada!

Smoking can cause heart disease, Smoking can cause heart disease, strokes, and can severely damage strokes, and can severely damage blood vessels.blood vessels.

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASECARDIOVASCULAR DISEASESmoke causes the heart to have to Smoke causes the heart to have to

work harder. It decreases the work harder. It decreases the amount of oxygen that is carried amount of oxygen that is carried in the blood, increases the heart in the blood, increases the heart rate and decreases the size of rate and decreases the size of blood vessels.blood vessels.

These symptoms can lead to a heart These symptoms can lead to a heart attack, stroke, or sudden death.attack, stroke, or sudden death.

Videos

• “award winning anti-smoking commercial” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JndtG8Y7yfw

• http://www.tobaccofree.org/clips/VideoAddictiveness.htm

ACTIVITYACTIVITYList 5 reasons why teenagers start List 5 reasons why teenagers start

smoking.smoking.

List 5 reasons why teenagers might List 5 reasons why teenagers might say “no” to smoking.say “no” to smoking.