1. S MOKING The Consequences

2. S TATISTICS Everyday, more than 1200 people in the country die due to smoking. For each of those deaths, at least two youth or young adults become regular smokers each day Use of multiple tobacco products-including cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco—is common among young people 9 out of 10 smokers started smoking by age 18  US Department of Health and Human Services

3. W HY SMOKE ?? Youth are vulnerable to social and environmental influences to use tobacco; messages and images that make tobacco use appealing are everywhere Young people want to fit in with their peers Youth are sensitive to nicotine and can feel dependent earlier than adults. About 3 out of 4 teen smokers end up smoking into adulthood, even if they intended to quit after a few years Those with friends or siblings who smoke are more likely to smoke US Department of Health and Human Services

4. M EDIA P RESSURE Smoking is often portrayed as a social norm in the media including the internet. Young people exposed to these images are more likely to smoke Tobacco companies spend more than a million dollars an hour in this country alone to market their product! US Department of Health and Human Services

5. W HAT ’ S IN A CIGARETTE ? Approximately 600 ingredients in cigarettes that create more than 4000 chemicals when burned, and at least 50 of these chemicals are known to cause cancer and are poisonous American Lung Association

6. H ERE ARE A FEW OF THESE CHEMICALS AND OTHER PLACES THEY ARE FOUND : Acetone – found in nail polish remover Acetic Acid – an ingredient in hair dye Ammonia – a common household cleaner Arsenic – used in rat poison Benzene – found in rubber cement Butane – used in lighter fluid Cadmium – active component in battery acid Carbon Monoxide – released in car exhaust fumes Formaldehyde – embalming fluid Hexamine – found in barbecue lighter fluid Lead – used in batteries Napthalene – an ingredient in moth balls Methanol – a main component in rocket fuel Nicotine – used as insecticide Tar – material for paving roads Toluene - used to manufacture paint American Lung Association

7. S O WHAT ARE MY RISKS ? Most everyone has heard about the link to lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of death in the US, and 80%- 90% of these deaths are due to smoking But did you know, smoking can also cause cancer of the throat, mouth, nasal cavity, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, kidney, bladder and cervix as well as acute myeloid leukemia?! American Lung Association

8. T HE H EALTH R ISK LIST CONTINUES People who smoke are up to two to four times more likely to suffer a heart attack than nonsmokers Smoking also causes most cases of chronic obstructive lung disease, referred to as COPD in the commercials you have seen on TV American Lung Association

9. S TILL NOT CONCERNED ? Read on. Let’s see what the outcome could be….

10. D EATH Cigarette smoking causes an estimated 443,000 deaths each year On average, smokers die 13 to 14 years earlier than nonsmokers Among youth who persist in smoking (that’s you), a third will die prematurely from smoking American Lung Association

11. N OT CONCERNED ABOUT YOURSELF ? H OW ABOUT FRIENDS AND FAMILY ? Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their lung cancer risk by 20-30% An estimated 3,000 Americans die of lung cancer and 46,000 die of heart disease annually due to second hand smoke American Lung Association

12. P LAN TO HAVE CHILDREN ? In children, secondhand smoke causes: Ear infections More frequent and severe asthma attacks Respiratory issues, including coughing, sneezing, and shortness of breath Respiratory infections, including bronchitis and pneumonia An increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Smoking during pregnancy causes some 10% of all infant deaths US Department of Health and Human Services

13. S O, WHY DO Y OU SMOKE ??

14. W ANT TO STOP SMOKING ? QuitlineNC provides free services to any NC resident who needs help quitting tobacco use. quitlinenc.com or 1-800-quit-now (1-800-784- 8669)

15. Y OU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT TOBACCO AND IT ’ S EFFECTS National Cancer Institute American Lung Association Centers from Disease Control and Prevention US Department of Health and Human Services

16. Q UIZ Download the “Smoker’s Quiz”. Complete and turn in to your school counselor.