Teen Health Information on Smoking

Smoking

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TeenHealthInfo on Smoking:

SMOKING:

Smoking can kill you. Actually, tobacco kills more people every year than AIDS, alcohol, drug abuse, murders, suicides, and fires COMBINED. Every day 3000 more teenagers become regular smokers-resist the urge to become a statistic!

When you smoke your breath and clothing stink like an ashtray! No one wants to kiss someone who smells of old cigarettes all the time! You are hurting yourself and those around you by smoking. Second hand smoke is very dangerous, so you shouldn't smoke inside the house, near babies and children, or whenever someone is allergic to smoke.

Tobacco, whether it is in cigarettes or chew, is highly addictive. When you are addicted both your body and mind think they need the nicotine and it is very difficult to quit (but you can get help!). It is easier never to start than to quit.

Short Term Effects:
When you smoke or chew, it is the nicotine in the tobacco that gets absorbed into your gums or mouth that your body responds to right away. It can cause your blood pressure and your heart rate to go up and your arteries to narrow (so not as much blood can get through to your heart and brain).

Long Term Effects:
Smoking can cause a huge array of deadly diseases (as well as non-deadly diseases). It is extremely toxic to your body. It can cause lung cancer, larynx cancer, esophageal cancer, bladder cancer, mouth cancer, chronic lung disease, coronary heart disease and stroke.

Smokeless tobacco also poses many of the same risks, so you should not use any sort of smokeless tobacco as a substitute. Smoking while you are pregnant or around someone that is pregnant can cause severe brain damage as well as other problems for the unborn child.

If you are ready to quit, or know someone who is, please contact one of the following organizations:

The PATCH Project (program against teen chewing)
www.patchproject.org

QuitNet
www.quitnet.org
They offer online counselors, a support community and advice made specifically for you to help you kick your nicotine addiction.

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