Tobacco is an agricultural crop. Nicotine is the addictive drug found in tobacco.[1] Tobacco is usually smoked, but can also be “dipped” or “chewed” so the nicotine is absorbed through the gums.[1]
Some teens smoke because they see their parents or friends doing it. They see smoking in popular media. Smoking may make teens feel confident, and provide a common ground for interacting with like-minded teens — a way to instantly bond with a group of kids. Smoking cigarettes can be a form of rebellion to flaunt their independence and make their parents angry.
Smoking can cause chronic lung disease, coronary heart disease, and stroke, as well as cancer of the lungs, larynx, esophagus, mouth, and bladder. In addition, smoking is known to contribute to cancer of the cervix, pancreas, and kidneys. Researchers have identified more than 40 chemicals in tobacco smoke that cause cancer in humans and animals. Smokeless tobacco and cigars also have deadly consequences, including lung, larynx, esophageal, and oral cancer.
The harmful effects of smoking do not end with the smoker. Women who use tobacco during pregnancy are more likely to have adverse birth outcomes, including babies with low birth weight, which is linked with an increased risk of infant death and with a variety of infant health disorders. The health of nonsmokers is adversely affected by environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Secondhand smoke causes approximately 7,330 deaths from lung cancer and 33,950 deaths from heart disease each year. Between 1964 and 2014, 2.5 million people died from exposure to secondhand smoke, according to a report from the U.S. Surgeon General. The report also concluded that secondhand smoke is a definitive cause of stroke.[2]
Signs of use include an increased use of breath fresheners and excuses to go outside. If you’re concerned your child may be using tobacco or other nicotine products (including vaping), the following can help you address the behavior more effectively.
Last Updated
October 2023
[1]NIDA. “Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 6 Jun. 2018, https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/cigarettes-other-tobacco-products. Accessed 19 Dec. 2018.
[2]“Risks of Tobacco.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 6 Dec. 2018, https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002032.htm
Additional Sources:
NIDA. “Tobacco/Nicotine and E-Cigs.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/tobacconicotine-e-cigs. Accessed 19 Dec. 2018.
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