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| Tobacco use
SMOKING: THE UP AND UP
Almost everyone knows that smoking causes cancer, emphysema, and heart disease; that it can shorten your life by 14 years or more; and that the habit can cost a smoker thousands of dollars a year. So how come people are still lighting up?
The answer, in one word, is addiction
SMOKING: IT'S AN ADDICTION
Smoking cigarettes exposes you to a drug called nicotine, which is highly addictive.. just like heroin or cocaine.
90% of smokers start smoking during their teenage years.
Today, the smokers rate among high school seniors is at a 17-year high.
4.5 million teenagers smoke today, with about another 3,000 starting every day!
Even smoking 1 to 2 cigarettes a day can subject you to becoming addicted.
SMOKING: WHY IS IT BAD FOR ME?
Everyone knows that smoking causes emphysema and cancer. But did you know it causes bad effects right away?
Cigarettes contain about 4000 chemicals, many which are poisonous!
- Nicotine: an addictive poison
- Arsenic: used in rat poison
- Methane: a component of rocket fuel
- Ammonia: found in floor cleaner
- Cadmium: used in batteries
- Carbon Monoxide: part of car exhaust
- Formaldehyde: used for embalming body tissue
- Butane: lighter fluid
- Hydrogen Cyanide: the poison used in gas chambers
KICKING BUTT AND STAYING SMOKE FREE
The only thing that really helps a person avoid the problems associated with smoking is staying smoke free. This isn't always easy, especially if everyone around you is smoking and offering you cigarettes.
Do you smoke? Have you ever stopped to think about how smoking is affecting your body and your life if you smoke. You owe it to yourself to find out about the effects or smoking on your life now?
There is plenty of help available. Take time to talk to your parents, school counselor, or health care provider about the help that is available to quit this harmful habit.http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/youth/index.htm
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