Youth and Smoking

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Youth and Smoking

• What you should know.

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Facts about Tobacco

• Smoking slows lung growth, decreases lung
  function, and reduces the oxygen available for
  muscles used in sports.
• Smokers suffer from shortness of breath almost 3
  times more often than nonsmokers.
• Nicotine is addictive in ways like heroin and
  cocaine.
• Young people who do not start using tobacco by
  age 18 will most likely never start.

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More Facts

• Young people who use tobacco may be more likely
  to use alcohol and other drugs such as cocaine
  and marijuana.
• Spit tobacco and cigars are NOT safe alternatives
  to cigarettes low-tar and additive-free tobacco
  products are not safe either.
• Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause
  of death in the United States, causing heart and
  lung diseases, cancers, and strokes.

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Children at MOST risk for Tobacco use

• have parents, siblings, or friends who smoke
• exhibit characteristics such as toughness and
  acting grown up
• deny the harmful effects of tobacco
• have fewer coping skills and smoke to alleviate
  stress

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Children at MOST risk for Tobacco use

• have poor self esteem and depression
• have poor academic performance, especially girls
• influenced by advertisements that relate
  cigarette smoking to being cool

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Recent Research Shows

• that actively involving students in a
  skills-based program can increase their
  confidence in refusing an offer to smoke.

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And

• These skills can also increase a students
  expectation that his peers will accept the
  decision without the fear of dire social
  consequences

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IF YOU DONT STARTYOU DONT HAVE TO QUIT

• Be Smart
• Make Good Choices
• Always Think About Your Consequences before you
  make a decision.

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Knowledge is Power

• Your Choice
• Your Life