Substance Abuse: Smoking

• In most countries including smoking is legal
• It is also socially accepted
• Cigarette smoke(tobacco smoke) contains a poison called nicotine
• Smoking is addictive
• Cigarette smoke has particles which when inhaled irritate lung tissue
• and reduce the diffusion of oxygen in lungs
• These particles (tar) collects in air sacs and microscopic tubules over period and may lead lung cancer
• Cancer is a terminal illness i.e. it usually leads to death
• Smoke particles may also cause fluids to build up in lung tissue
• This sort of disease is called emphysema
• It leads to breathing (respiratory) problems
• People with the disease cannot get as much oxygen as they need
• Smoking can also lead to bronchitis
• It is a disease where the bronchioles become irritated and inflated
• This is a life threatening disease
• When pregnant women smoke it leads to them giving babies with low birth weight
• Babies of smoking mothers are born with below average weight
• Smoking also contributes to heart disease
• This is because smoke substances build up and block blood vessels
• This leads to increased stress on the heart as it pumps blood
• One such heart disease is called coronary heart disease (CHD)
• This is when the arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood become blocked
• This can lead to heart attacks
• Smoking reduces life expectancy
• It also causes passive smoking
• The effects of passive smoking are the same as those of smoking in the long run

Summary of smoking problems

• emphysema
• bronchitis
• lung cancer
• low birth weight in babies of smoking mothers
• Coronary heart disease
• Turning those around the smoker into passive smokers
• Reduced life expectancy

Possible solutions to smoking

• Passing anti-smoking laws such as:
• Laws that prohibit public smoking/smoking in public or crowded spaces
• Laws that prohibit the sell of cigars and cigarettes to those under 18
• Mandatory health warning labels on cigarette packs
• Smoking tax to make cigarettes expensive
• Sell cigarettes in un-attractive packs so as to dissuade people from buying
• Educating people about the dangers of smoking

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