SMOKING and TEENAGERS
SMOKING AMONG TEENS in the UNITED STATES
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?
Cigarette smoking: 12th graders
Per
cen
t o
f st
ud
ents
Students who smoked one or more cigarettes in the past month
0
10
20
30
40
50
1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002Year
White
Hispanic
Black
CONSEQUENCES of SMOKING
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.
0 5 10 15 20
Tobacco
Poor diet and exercise
Alcohol
Infections
Pollutants/toxins
Firearms
Sexual behavior
Motor vehicles
Illicit drug use
1 in 5 DEATHSare caused by TOBACCO
Percentage of all deaths
Smoking can harm YOU and OTHERS.
WHAT’S in TOBACCO SMOKE?
Harmful gases
Tar Lead Nicotine
4,800 chemicals in tobacco smoke
Many are PROVEN to cause cancer
A diseased lung showing emphysema, characteristic of smoking
FORMS OF TOBACCO
Cigarettes Smokeless tobacco: snuff, chewing
tobacco Pipes Cigars Clove cigarettes Bidis
SMOKING AND QUITTING
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, NICOTINE, in tobacco,
makes people become addicted to makes people become addicted to smokingsmoking
7 of every 10 smokers want to quit!7 of every 10 smokers want to quit!
Nicotine entersNicotine enters brain brain
Stimulates brain Stimulates brain receptorsreceptors
Release of “pleasure” Release of “pleasure” chemicalschemicals
GETTING HOOKED on TOBACCO
FIRST USE:Tastes bad;dizzy,nausea
NEXT FEW USES:Not as bad, getting used to it
MONTHS LATER:Smokingmoreregularly, start craving it
A YEAR or MORE LATER:Hooked and can’t quit
TOBACCO and PERSONAL APPEARANCE
Bad breath
Hair and clothes stink
Stains teeth
TOBACCO and ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE
NICOTINE/SMOKING:
Narrows blood vessels, puts extra strain on your heart
Harms lungs, reducing oxygen availability during exercise
Causes shortness of breath
Can’t run as fast or as far
HOOKED on TOBACCO?
NEW SMOKERS SUFFER:
Coughing Difficulty breathing Lung infections Increased resting
heart rates Increased likelihood of
stronger addiction, the younger they start
HOOKED on TOBACCO?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 AND CAN’T QUIT
HOOKED on TOBACCO?
AFTER SEVERAL YEARS of SMOKING
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?
Advertisements
Their friends smoke
People in their family smoke
Rebel against parents, others
TOBACCO ADVERTISEMENTS
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
Difficult to do—teens get addicted, too
Can’t use nicotine patches or gum
Teen stop-smoking programs
Best way is prevention…
DON’T START!
70% of all teen smokers wish they had never started
HELPING TEENS STOP SMOKING
WHAT CAN YOU DO to AVOID TOBACCO ADDICTION?
Make a commitment. Commit to NOT using tobacco, EVER. Decide that you do not want your life
to be ruled by an addiction. Know the truth.
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.
Do any of your friends or family members smoke or use tobacco? YES: Encourage them to quit NO: Encourage them to stay tobacco-
free. Get involved in sports and other
activities. Students who are involved in
extracurricular activities are less likely to use drugs or tobacco.
WHAT CAN YOU DO to AVOID TOBACCO ADDICTION?
Spend your money on things other than tobacco.
Get involved: Spread the word about the dangers
of tobacco use Start or join an activist group against
smoking
WHAT CAN YOU DO to AVOID TOBACCO ADDICTION?
IT COSTS A LOT TO SMOKE
Packsper day
Buying cigarettes every day for 50 years @ $4.12 per packMoney banked monthly, earning 1.5% interest
0 100 200 300 400
Hundreds of thousands of dollars lost
$331,467
$220,978
$110,489