What are the risks?
Addiction
Tobacco, a strong poison, is the most addictive of all drugs. It stimulates the same areas of the brain as cocaine and amphetamines, and tolerance to nicotine develops faster than to cocaine or heroin.
Neurochemically, the body adapts to the toxins in tobacco a few hours after smoking. Soon smoking becomes necessary to feel "normal".
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Health Risks
- Cancer -- Cancer of the lungs, mouth, throat, esophagus and more.
- Frequent colds.
- Chronic bronchitis.
- Emphysema.
- Stroke.
- Heart disease.
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Other Negatives Your Date Won't Like
- Stained teeth.
- Bad breath.
- Clothes, hair, hands, room and car reek of smoke.
- Premature face wrinkles.
- Diminished sense of taste and smell.
- Smoking drains your wallet ($2.25 or more a pack).
- Chewing tobacco leaves gross stuff between your teeth -- no kissing for you.
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Second-hand Smoke
By smoking you hurt others. Tobacco smoke is a serious threat to the health of nonsmokers. Smoke in the air from others' cigarettes contains toxic chemicals including tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide, arsenic and cyanide. Nonsmokers who breathe it absorb these substances and are at risk for the same serious health consequences as smokers.
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Cancer cells
Sources:
Below are links PAMF accessed when researching this topic. PAMF, however, does not sponsor or endorse any of these sites, nor does PAMF guarantee the accuracy of the information contained on them.
Health Promotion Services, Vaden Health Center, Stanford University. What is Tobacco? Accessed February 2004.
More information on smoking and lung diseases
More information on lung cancer
More information on coronary artery diseases and smoking
More information on teen smoking
Last Reviewed: October 2004