Substance Use and Abuse Lesson 2

Smoking Everyone knows that smoking causes cancer, emphysema, and heart disease That it shortens your life by 14 years or more So why are people still doing it………. THEY’RE ADDICTED

Once You Start, It’s Hard to Stop Smoking is a hard habit to break because it contains nicotine, which is highly addictive The body and mind quickly become used to it and feel that they need it

Almost no smoker begins as an adult 9 out of 10 tobacco users starts before 18 Teens often smoke because it makes them look older (it does, yellow teeth & wrinkles!) It apparently helps them relax (it actually makes your heart beat faster) Some feel rebellious or it helps them stand out Some just do it as something to do with their friends

Some begin smoking because family member smoke No advertising of smoking is allowed by law

How Smoking Affects Your Health Speeds up your heat beat Increases blood pressure Upsets flow of blood and air in your lungs Long term = cancer, emphysema (breakdown of lung tissue), organ damage, heart disease, and death Each time a smoker lights up, it takes about 5 to 20 minutes off their life

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How Smoking Affects Your Health – continued Wrinkles, yellow teeth Loose bone density which increases risk of osteoporosis Smokers tend to be less active because it affects lung power Fertility problems

The Affects of Smoking are not just in the long run….. Teen smokers can experience: – Bad skin: smoking restricts blood vessels, which can prevent oxygen and nutrients from getting to the skin = pale/ unhealthy – Bad Breath: can develop, halitosis (persistent bad breath) – Bad smelling clothes / hair: smell of stale smoke tends to linger

-Reduced athletic performance: can’t compete with non smoking peers, (shortness of breath) -Greater risk of injury and slower healing time: common sports injuries to ligaments and tendons will heal slowly in smokers -Increased risk of illness: smokers get more colds, flu, bronchitis and pneumonia. Often eat non nutritional meals and have low immune systems

Do you want this to be you….

Quitting the Habit Different approaches work for different people: – Quitting cold turkey – Support groups – Doctors – Cutting down and gradually have less