TOBACCO

Gateway drugs

• Tobacco, alcohol, and inhalants are known as the gateway drugs becuase they are drugs that kids start out with before moving on to harsher drugs such as marijuana, etc. in the future.
• A study done in 1994 found that 22% of smokers began smoking in 6th and 7th grades.

• 3000 children a day in the United States become regular smokers.
• Children are the prime target of major cigarette companies.
• Cigarette companies need to replace their adult customers that quit and die from tobacco related illnesses.
• Joe Camel is a cartoon character that provides a favorable idea of smoking to young children.  This sends mixed messages to children who learn that cigarette smoking is unhealthy in school.

• Major tobacco industries have a lot of economic power.
• The government makes a lot of money from cigarette taxes.
• Tobacco is the 6th largest cash crop in the United States (this means that there are a lot of jobs in the industry--from farmers to CEOs of cigarette companies.)

• $25 million is spent on cigarettes in the United States each year.
• $65 million is the cost of medical care associated with with tobacco related illness.

• Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States.
• 400,000 deaths in the U.S. are linked to tobacco use
• one in five deaths in the U.S are related to smoking.
• The top 3 leading causes of death (heart disease, cancer, stroke) are related to smoking.

• Nicotine is a stimulant that makes the heart work harder and faster which creates strain.
• Nicotine also contstricts the blood vessels which causes blood pressure to go up.
• Nicotine raises blood cholesterol levels.
• Nicotine increases the liklihood of blood clots.
• Carbon Dioxide in cigarettes robs the body of oxygen, especially in the heart, by binding to hemoglobin.
• Smoking one pack of cigarettes a day doubles the risk of a heart attack.
• Smoking two packs of cigarettes a day triples the risk of heart attack.
• Second hand smokers (those who are around smokers) suffer a 30% increased risk of heart disease.

• The tars in cigarettes are related to cancer.
• These tars stay in your lungs even after you exhale the smoke from cigarettes.
• There are 43 known carcinogens that you expose yourself to when you smoke.
• 87% of lung cancer is directly caused by smoking.
• Poor methods of treatment and little warning signs make lung cancer fatal in most cases.
• Lung cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in both men and women.
• 65-68% of the causes of cancer are related to lifestyle (eating habits, smoking, etc)

• Increase in upper respiratory problems (colds, pnemonia, bronchitis, etc.)
• Clothes, breath, hair smell like smoke.
• Yellowing of teeth and fingers.
• Shortness of breath.
• Taste buds not as acute.
• Worsens preexisting allergies and asthma.
• Addiction-- mind and body don't feel normal without the drug (nicotine.)
• Nicotine is as addictive as heroin.
• There is enough nicotine in one pack of cigarettes to kill you (if injected into the vein.)

• Provide basic, accurate, up to date information about classification of drugs and their health effects.
• Information needs to be age appropriate (e.g. teach older kids the legality of using drugs.) to meet developmental needs of your students.
• Establish the concept that we are each responsible for our own health related decisions.
• Lend support to those students who do not wish to use drugs.
• Establish the conept that you don't need to use drugs to feel good or to solve problems.  Establish alternatives to having fun that don't involve alcohol and drugs.