Quick Fact:
Although many people smoke because they believe cigarettes calm their nerves, smoking releases epinephrine, a hormone that creates physiological stress in the smoker, rather than relaxation!

Is smokeless tobacco safe?

Many people think that smokeless tobacco (also known as chewing or spit tobacco, or snuff) is safe, but smokeless tobacco is extremely harmful!  It can cause bleeding gums and sores of the mouth that never heal, and can eventually cause cancers, including cancer of the mouth, tongue and throat.  Also, smokeless tobacco contains nicotine, so it is addictive - just like cigarettes!

Tobacco Facts

·          Every day in the United States, more than 3,000 young people become regular smokers - that's more than one million new smokers each year.

·          Most people start using tobacco before they finish high school.  This means that if you stay smoke-free during your school years, you will probably never smoke.

·          Studies show that the nicotine found in cigarettes is as addictive as heroin, cocaine, and alcohol.  Most teens who smoke are addicted to nicotine.  They want to quit smoking but they can't.  When they do try to quit, they experience withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, nervousness, and cravings - just like adult smokers.

·          Teenaged smokers suffer from shortness of breath almost three times as often as teens who don't smoke and produce phlegm more than twice as often as teens who don't smoke.

·          In adults, cigarette smoking causes heart disease and stroke.  Studies have shown that early signs of these diseases can be found in teenagers who smoke.

·          Starting smoking at an early age greatly increases the risk of lung cancer.  A person's risk for most other smoking-related cancers also rises with the length of time that a person smokes.

·          Teens who smoke are 3 times more likely than non-smokers to use alcohol, 8 times more likely to use marijuana, and 22 times more likely to use cocaine.

·          More than 5 million young people under the age of 18 who are currently alive will die prematurely from a smoking-related disease.
 

	Are you a teen who smokes, but would like to stop? Click here to learn how to quit!

Health Hazards...
Cigarette smoking is perhaps the most devastating preventable cause of disease and premature death. Smoking is particularly dangerous for teens because their bodies are still developing and changing and the chemicals and poisons in cigarette smoke can adversley affect this process.  Some of the risks associated with cigarette smoking include:

Diminished or extinguished sense of smell and taste
Smoker's cough
Gastric ulcers
Chronic bronchitis
Increase in heart rate and blood pressure
Premature and more abundant face wrinkles
Emphysema
Heart disease
Stroke
Cancer of the mouth, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, lungs, pancreas, cervix, uterus, and bladder.

Source: National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information: www.health.org.
 

Don't Risk it!
If you're looking for yet another reason to not smoke, look no further than the law!  It is illegal in the United States for anyone under 18 to purchase cigarettes! 
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Concerned about a friend who smokes?  Click here to learn how you can help!