Smoking

Smoking is a hard habit to break because tobacco contains the very addictive chemical nicotine. As with
heroin or other addictive drugs, the body and mind quickly get used to the nicotine in cigarettes. Soon, a
person needs to have it just to feel normal.

People start smoking for different reasons. Some think it looks cool. Others start because their family
members or friends smoke.

How Can Smoking Affect Health?

Many of the chemicals in cigarettes, like nicotine and cyanide, are poisons that can kill in high doses. The
body is smart. It goes on the defense when it's being poisoned. First-time smokers often feel pain or
burning in their throat and lungs, and some even throw up the first few times they try tobacco.

Over time, smoking leads to health problems such as:

 heart disease

 stroke

 lung damage

 many types of cancer — including lung, throat, stomach, and bladder cancer

Other problems include:

 gum disease

 yellow teeth

 eye disease

 an increased risk for infections (like pneumonia)

 a greater risk of diabetes

 weaker bones that are easier to break

 skin problems like psoriasis (a type of rash)

 wrinkled skin

 ulcers

 Bad breath. Cigarettes leave smokers with a condition called halitosis, or lasting bad breath.

 Bad-smelling clothes and hair. The smell of stale smoke tends to last — not just on people's
clothing, but on their hair, furniture, and cars. It's hard to get the smell of smoke out.

 Trouble keeping up in sports. Smokers usually can't compete well with nonsmokers. Physical
effects of smoking, like a fast heartbeat, decreased circulation, and shortness of breath, harm
sports performance.
 Greater risk of injury and slower healing time. Smoking hurts the body's ability to make
collagen. So common sports injuries, such as damage to tendons and ligaments, will heal more
slowly in smokers than nonsmokers.

 Increased risk of illness. Studies show that smokers get sick more with colds, flu, bronchitis, and
pneumonia than nonsmokers.

https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/smoking.html#:~:targetText=Smoking%20is%20a%20hard%20h
abit,start%20smoking%20for%20different%20reasons.

What Is Secondhand Smoke?

 Secondhand smoke is smoke from burning tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars, or
pipes.1,5,6

 Secondhand smoke also is smoke that has been exhaled, or breathed out, by the person
smoking.5,6

 Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, including hundreds that are toxic and
about 70 that can cause cancer.1

Secondhand Smoke Harms Children and Adults

 There is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke exposure; even brief exposure can be harmful
to health.1,2,6

 Since 1964, approximately 2,500,000 nonsmokers have died from health problems caused by
exposure to secondhand smoke.1

Health Effects in Children

In children, secondhand smoke causes the following:1,2,3

 Ear infections

 More frequent and severe asthma attacks

 Respiratory symptoms (for example, coughing, sneezing, and shortness of breath)

 Respiratory infections (bronchitis and pneumonia)

 A greater risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/general_facts/in
dex.htm
Peer Pressure

a feeling that one must do the same things as other people of one's age and social group in
order to be liked or respected by them.

https://www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › peer pressure

Negative Effects of Peer Pressure in High School

Peer pressure is the influence from members of one's peer group. This can include influencing
another to drink, smoke, cheat on a test, participate in sexual activities, lying, skipping class, etc.
The list is endless. Peer pressure in high school is both harmful and effective because it can lead
to teen depression, high stress levels, negative behavior issues, and poor decision-making and
outcomes

Peer pressure is something that causes conflict in an individual's life. The feeling of not fitting
in, not being good enough, and not being a part of the “group” overwhelms and takes over the
mindset of a regular teen. High stress and hurtful experiences seem to always be the result to
giving to peer pressure because of the endless amount of negative aspects that can come with
it. Statistics say between 20% – 30% of adolescents report symptoms of depression because of
peer pressure.

Despite the fact that peer pressure is most commonly seen as a very negative issue, it can be
seen positively in some situations. This can involve pressuring your peers to be honest, avoid
drugs, avoid alcohol, respect others, work hard, exercise, be kind, be responsible, and more.

https://vocal.media/education/negative-effects-of-peer-pressure-in-high-
school#:~:targetText=The%20list%20is%20endless.,poor%20decision%2Dmaking%20and%20out
comes.&targetText=Peer%20pressure%20is%20something%20that%20causes%20conflict%20in
%20an%20individual's%20life.
Secondhand smoke can infiltrate into other units through hallways and stairwells.

Health Effects in Adults

In adults who have never smoked, secondhand smoke can cause:

 Heart disease

o For nonsmokers, breathing secondhand smoke has immediate harmful effects on the
heart and blood vessels.1,3

o It is estimated that secondhand smoke caused nearly 34,000 heart disease deaths each
year during 2005–2009 among adult nonsmokers in the United States.1

 Lung cancer1,7

o Secondhand smoke exposure caused more than 7,300 lung cancer deaths each year
during 2005–2009 among adult nonsmokers in the United States.1

 Stroke1
Smokefree laws can reduce the risk for heart disease and lung cancer among nonsmokers.1

Patterns of Secondhand Smoke Exposure

Exposure to secondhand smoke can be measured by testing saliva, urine, or blood to see if it contains
cotinine.3 Cotinine is created when the body breaks down the nicotine found in tobacco smoke.

Secondhand Smoke Exposure Has Decreased in Recent Years

 Measurements of cotinine show that exposure to secondhand smoke has steadily decreased in
the United States over time.

o During 1988–1991, almost 90 of every 100 (87.9%) nonsmokers had measurable levels
of cotinine.7

o During 2007–2008, about 40 of every 100 (40.1%) nonsmokers had measurable levels of
cotinine.7

o During 2011–2012, about 25 of every 100 (25.3%) nonsmokers had measurable levels of
cotinine.8

 The decrease in exposure to secondhand smoke is likely due to:8

o The growing number of states and communities with laws that do not allow smoking in
indoor areas of workplaces and public places, including restaurants, bars, and casinos

o The growing number of households with voluntary smokefree home rules

o Significant declines in cigarette smoking rates

o The fact that smoking around nonsmokers has become much less socially acceptable