Slang

Cigs, smokes, fags, cancer sticks, snuff, ciggies

Side effects

• Difficulty breathing
• Decreased appetite
• Decreased circulation
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Drop in skin temperature
• Faster and shallower breathing
• First-time smokers feel dizzy and energized and may experience diarrhea and vomiting

Smokers who inhale subject themselves and the people around them to very high carbon monoxide levels. If you’re allergic to smoke or susceptible to asthma, flare-ups and chest spasms can begin quickly.

Long term effects

The potentially fatal diseases smoking causes are:

• Cardiovascular disease (heart attack, stroke)
• Cancer (lung cancer, cancers of the mouth, pharynx, cancer of the pancreas, cancers of the kidney and urinary bladder)
• Respiratory disease (pneumonia, influenza, bronchitis, chronic airway obstruction)

For pregnant women who smoke; the risk of pre-maturity, miscarriage and stillbirth is greater. Studies suggest that the mother’s smoking can have a detrimental effect on the child’s growth, intellectual development and behaviour (Health Canada).

Non-smokers who have been exposed to second-hand smoke (passive smoking) on a continual basis can also suffer and possibly die from fatal diseases such as lung cancer and heart disease (Canadian Cancer Society). For example, if they grew up living with a parent who smoked, or if they worked in an environment that permitted smoking inside. Although, most workplaces today no not allow smoking indoors.

Young tobacco users have abnormally high heartbeats, low tolerance for exercise, lower lung capacity, and an increased risk of damaging arteries from fatty build-ups associated with heart disease.

Facts

• If you start smoking at age 13 at a pack a day, once you’re 30 you’ll have spent $15,000; once you reach retirement age it will have cost you $ 45,000 without having medical expenses included (GPI Atlantic).
• 19% of Canadians 15 and older smoke, that’s about 5.2 million Canadians (Heart & Stroke Foundation).
• Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, including many harmful substances, such as carbon monoxide, toluene, acetone and ammonia (quit-smoking-stop.com).
• The main cause of lung cancer is smoking.In 2006, there were an estimated 22,700 Canadians diagnosed with lung cancer, and approximately 19, 300 died from the disease (Canadian Cancer Society).
• Non-smokers who are regularly exposed to second-hand smoke have a higher risk of contracting lung cancer, and heart disease. Increased chances of cancer of the sinuses, brain, breast, uterine, cervix, thyroid, as well as leukemia and lymphoma are also noted (Canadian Cancer Society).
• A single drop of pure nicotine could kill a person (NIDA for Teens).

Laws

Possession or use of tobacco products in a public place by anyone under 18 years of age is an offence under the Tobacco Act.

Laws and regulations restricting use of tobacco in public places have been introduced across Canada. Some provinces have increased the smoking age to 19 years, for instance.

Under The Non-Smokers Health Act (1985), federally-regulated workplaces are smoke-free under federal legislation. Various advertising bans or restrictions concerning television, radio, print and sponsorship advertising are in force under federal statutes. The regulation of nicotine as a drug and of tobacco products as hazardous products is a federal responsibility, as are new package health warnings.

Where to go for help

For more information on tobacco and nicotine, please talk to your family doctor or your school counsellor. You can also check out the Health Canada website or the links below.

Links

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
British Columbia’s Ministry of Health Services
Health Canada
Canadian Health Network
Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse – Tobacco
Youth Smoking Survey – 04/05
Quit-smoking-stop.com