What is tobacco?

Tobacco is a plant that produces leaves that are smoked in cigarettes. Tobacco contains a toxic chemical called nicotine, which is highly addictive. Nicotine’s highly addictive qualities keep you coming back for more and makes it very difficult to stop smoking. When combined with tobacco, these drugs can have detrimental health effects, including disease, disability and death.

E-cigarettes are electronic smoking devices that can be filled with nicotine cartridges. These e-cigarettes emit an aerosol full of chemicals when smoked. Smoking e-cigarettes is often called “vaping” because they emit this harmful vapor into the air.

Risks of using tobacco and e-cigs:

Nicotine

• Affects your brain, nervous system, and increases your blood pressure.
• When nicotine wears off, you may experience withdrawals symptoms, like sadness and anger.

Tobacco

• Bad breath, yellow teeth, and smelly clothes are among the initial risks of smoking cigarettes.
• Toxins in cigarette smoke damage the lungs and emphysema can develop over the years. Cancer may develop as your lung cells are continually damaged by the smoke.

E-Cigarettes

• Just because e-cigarettes don’t fill the lungs with smoke doesn’t make them safer than normal cigarettes. You are still putting the addictive chemical, nicotine, into your body.

What can I do?

If you are wanting to use tobacco or e-cigarettes, or if you already are and need help quitting, talk to a parent or caregiver for more information or help.  For more information about what happens as you quit smoking, view this video from ASAP Science: