Smoking

Cigarettes contain tar, carbon monoxide, chemicals like DDT, arsenic and formaldehyde (a gas used to preserve dead animals). Most people would never think of putting these gross things in their bodies. The tobacco in cigarettes also contains nicotine–the drug that makes smoking addictive. All of these things are bad for your body. Nicotine raises your risk of heart attack and stroke. Tar and carbon monoxide cause serious breathing problems. And you know tobacco smoke causes cancer. Tobacco is toxic (poison) to your body. It causes more health problems and early deaths than all illegal drugs combined. It’s also highly addictive. The longer you use tobacco, and the more you use, the harder it is to stop. Everyone who smokes started by “just trying it.” That’s how the habit and the addiction begin.

Topics

Reasons not to smoke

  • Expensive habit
  • Bad breath
  • Bad smell in your clothes, hair, skin
  • Stained teeth and hands
  • Cough/sore throat
  • Problems breathing
  • Feeling tired and out of breath
  • You’ll get wrinkles earlier and more of them
  • Cancer risk
  • Heart disease risk
  • Gum disease risk
  • Risk of secondhand smoke to people around you

Things you can to do instead of smoking

  • Chew gum
  • Call a friend
  • Chew sunflower seeds
  • Go to a movie or somewhere else you aren’t allowed to smoke.
  • Take a walk or work out
  • Remind yourself why you want to quit

I Want to Quit

If you smoke, it’s not too late to make a change. To quit, you must break your addiction to nicotine and your habit of smoking. Habits like sneaking out of your bedroom to smoke outside will have to stop if you really want to quit.

Steps to make quitting easier:

  • Pick a date that you want to stop smoking - approximately two to four weeks from the day you decide to quite once and for all. Be sure to choose a time when you don’t expect any extra stress at school, work or home.
  • Make a list of the reasons why you want to quit. Keep the list on hand so you can look at it when you have a nicotine craving.
  • Keep a journal to track of where, when and why you smoke. Make notes for about one week and this will help let you know ahead of time when and why you will crave a cigarette. Plan what you’ll do instead of smoking (see list above for ideas). You may also want to plan what you’ll say to people who pressure you to smoke.
  • Throw away all of your cigarettes, throw away you and lighters. Don’t keep anything associated with smoking.
  • Ask your friends not to pressure you about smoking. Stand firm and let them know you are quitting. Make plans with them that don’t involve smoking like going to the movies.
  • Make sure you stop on the day you committed to two to four weeks in advance. Reward yourself when you hit milestones. For example, if you’ve gone one week or one month without smoking, treat yourself to a new piece of clothing or CD.