Tobacco Information for Teens: Health Tips about the Hazards of Using Cigarettes, Smokeless Tobacco, and Other Nicotine Products

Although most teens don't smoke—only 20% of high school students reported current cigarette use according to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—national statistics indicate that every day approximately 4,000 U.S. adolescents try their first cigarette. The health consequences can be devastating. Cigarette smoking by young people leads to immediate and serious health problems, including respiratory and cardiovascular effects, changes in brain chemistry, and risks for nicotine addiction. Long-term smoking is linked to a host of life-threatening disorders, including various cancers, lung diseases, and heart attacks. In fact, an estimated one out of every five deaths in the United States is linked to cigarette smoking. Tobacco Information for Teens, Second Edition offers updated information about the health consequences associated with smoking and other forms of tobacco use. It explains some of the cultural influences that can make tobacco use seem attractive, and it discusses various methods by which nicotine is consumed. A section on cancers describes the organs most commonly affected, and a section on other health concerns discusses tobacco-related diseases that impact the heart, lungs, circulatory system, eyes, and sex organs. For teens who want to stop smoking—or help someone else quit—facts about smoking cessation are presented along with tips for dealing with the effects of nicotine withdrawal. The book concludes with directories of resources for more information.