Tobacco Lesson 2

Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey (CTUMS) Indicates that smoking rates among teens have fallen in recent years. Indicates that smoking rates among teens have fallen in recent years. Contributing factors to this ongoing trend may include the following: Contributing factors to this ongoing trend may include the following: Anti smoking campaigns Anti smoking campaigns Financial cost Financial cost Societal pressures Societal pressures Family influence Family influence

CTUMS % of teens age smoke 18% of teens age smoke Down from 28% in 1999 Down from 28% in 1999

CTUMS 2006 Youth Aged Youth Aged The rate of smoking among youth aged was 16% for the first half of 2006 with 9% reporting daily smoking and 7% occasional smoking. There was no difference in the prevalence of smoking among teenage boys (17%) and teenage girls (15%). Youth daily smokers consumed on average 12.0 cigarettes per day with teenage girls (10.9) smoking two fewer cigarettes daily compared to teenage boys (12.9).1 The average number of cigarettes smoked per day for teenage boys has increased from 10.1 during the same period last year. The rate of smoking among youth aged was 16% for the first half of 2006 with 9% reporting daily smoking and 7% occasional smoking. There was no difference in the prevalence of smoking among teenage boys (17%) and teenage girls (15%). Youth daily smokers consumed on average 12.0 cigarettes per day with teenage girls (10.9) smoking two fewer cigarettes daily compared to teenage boys (12.9).1 The average number of cigarettes smoked per day for teenage boys has increased from 10.1 during the same period last year.1

Benefits of Living Tobacco Free Decreased risk of lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke Decreased risk of lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke Improved cardiovascular endurance and lung function, which increases physical fitness and enhances athletic performance Improved cardiovascular endurance and lung function, which increases physical fitness and enhances athletic performance Sense of freedom from an addictive substance Sense of freedom from an addictive substance Less stress Less stress Helps a person look and feel better (higher energy levels, healthier skin, fresher breath, better smelling clothes and hair) Helps a person look and feel better (higher energy levels, healthier skin, fresher breath, better smelling clothes and hair)

Strategies for Preventing Tobacco Use The best way to avoid the negative consequences of tobacco use is to never start using tobacco products. Strategies to help you stick to your decision to live tobacco free: Strategies to help you stick to your decision to live tobacco free: Choose friends who don’t use tobacco Choose friends who don’t use tobacco Avoid situations where tobacco products may be used Avoid situations where tobacco products may be used Practice and use refusal skills Practice and use refusal skills

Why Some Teens Use Tobacco Some teens choose not to resist the pressure to start smoking. Some teens choose not to resist the pressure to start smoking. For example, some teens start smoking: For example, some teens start smoking: To help control their weight or cope in times of stress and crisis To help control their weight or cope in times of stress and crisis To make them seem mature and independent To make them seem mature and independent Because of peer pressure and media influences Because of peer pressure and media influences

Why Some Teens Use Tobacco Reality: Reality: smoking reduces the body’s capacity for physical activity smoking reduces the body’s capacity for physical activity may actually lead to weight gain may actually lead to weight gain health problems and nicotine dependency will increase the tobacco user’s stress level health problems and nicotine dependency will increase the tobacco user’s stress level and most tobacco users wish they could just quit. and most tobacco users wish they could just quit.

Reasons to Give Up Tobacco Use Below are a few reasons why teen smokers decided to quit: Below are a few reasons why teen smokers decided to quit: They began to have health problems (asthma, respiratory infections) They began to have health problems (asthma, respiratory infections) They have the desire, will, and commitment to stop They have the desire, will, and commitment to stop They realize how expensive the habit is ($3000/year) They realize how expensive the habit is ($3000/year) They realize that using tobacco can lead to other risky behaviours (alcohol, other drugs) They realize that using tobacco can lead to other risky behaviours (alcohol, other drugs)

Reasons to Give Up Tobacco Use They find it difficult to purchase tobacco products (selling tobacco products to persons under the age of 19 is illegal) They find it difficult to purchase tobacco products (selling tobacco products to persons under the age of 19 is illegal) They realize the damaging effects of secondhand smoke and don’t want to harm their families and friends They realize the damaging effects of secondhand smoke and don’t want to harm their families and friends

Stopping the Addiction Cycle Overcoming nicotine addiction is difficult but not impossible. People who stop using tobacco will experience symptoms of nicotine withdrawal – the process that occurs in the body when nicotine, an addictive drug, is no longer used. Overcoming nicotine addiction is difficult but not impossible. People who stop using tobacco will experience symptoms of nicotine withdrawal – the process that occurs in the body when nicotine, an addictive drug, is no longer used. Symptoms of nicotine withdrawal include: Symptoms of nicotine withdrawal include: Irritability Irritability Difficulty concentrating Difficulty concentrating Anxiety Anxiety Sleep disturbance Sleep disturbance Cravings for tobacco Cravings for tobacco

Nicotine Substitutes Symptoms of withdraw can be relieved by using a nicotine substitute – a product that delivers small amounts of nicotine into the user’s system while he/she is trying to give up the tobacco habit (i.e., gum, patches, nasal sprays, inhalers). Symptoms of withdraw can be relieved by using a nicotine substitute – a product that delivers small amounts of nicotine into the user’s system while he/she is trying to give up the tobacco habit (i.e., gum, patches, nasal sprays, inhalers). People who are trying to give up tobacco use can try the following strategies: People who are trying to give up tobacco use can try the following strategies: Prepare for the day Prepare for the day Get support and encouragement Get support and encouragement Access professional health services Access professional health services Replace tobacco use with healthier alternatives Replace tobacco use with healthier alternatives Change daily behaviour Change daily behaviour Engage in healthful behaviours Engage in healthful behaviours

Benefits of Quitting 20 mins: Blood pressure and pulse rates drop Body temperature in limbs returns to normal Within 8 hours: Oxygen levels return to normal 24 hours: Chance of heart attack begins to decrease 48 hours: Nerve endings begin to regrow Senses of taste and smell improve

3 days: Breathing becomes easier as lung capacity increases 2 weeks – 3 months Lungs function 30% better 1 – 9 months Lung cilia regrow Coughing, sinus congestion and shortness of breath decrease. 1 year Risk of coronary disease is cut in half

5 years: Risk of lung cancer and cancers of the mouth, throat and esophagus is reduced by 50% 10 years: Risk of cancer of the bladder, kidney, cervix and pancreas decrease