43 Smoking… » Is the leading preventable cause of death today. » Is the number one risk factor for lung cancer. People who smoke are 15 to 30 times more likely to develop the disease. » Doubles your chances of having a heart attack. » Causes premature death in half of all smokers from smoking-related diseases like emphysema, heart disease, stroke, and lung and other cancers. Statistical Facts » Americans have consumed more than 17 trillion cigarettes. If laid end to end that would be equivalent to 900 million miles. » Nearly 16 percent of high school students smoke cigarettes. » Cigarette smoke contains over 4,800 chemicals, 69 of which are known to cause cancer. » Secondhand smoke causes more than an estimated 202,000 asthma episodes, 790,000 physician visits for buildup of fluid in the middle ear, and 430 sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) cases each year. TOBACCO ADDICTION: Killer Instinct Smoking kills more people than AIDs, alcohol, drug abuse, car crashes, murders, suicides, and fires combined. For More Information American Cancer Society www.cancer.org American Lung Association www.lung.org American Heart Association www.heart.org Tips from Former Smokers www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips Quitters always prosper. Half of those who have ever smoked have quit. ese 46 million people have improved their health and prospects for a longer life and relieved their families and co-workers of worry and the dangers of secondhand smoke. But it’s not easy to kick a powerful addiction, and you should be prepared to go through some discomfort. ere’s a lot of help available. Don’t be discouraged if you’ve tried before. It takes people an average of six attempts to quit for good, and your chances of stopping successfully actually go up the more times you’ve tried. Keep trying—people who quit at any age live longer than people who don’t. Smokers who quit before they’re 50 cut their risk of dying in the next 15 years in half. Why is it so hard to quit smoking? It’s not an exaggeration to call tobacco use an addiction. In fact, curbing or eliminating tobacco is particularly complex because there is both a physical addiction to the drug, nicotine, PLUS a psychological dependence on the behavior itself. As a result, this “dual-addiction” makes tobacco a leader in the category of addictive substances. Consider these facts: » Animals in labs will work (push levers) for injections of nicotine instead of food and water, literally dying to get their fix. » Withdrawal symptoms develop quickly. Dizziness, nausea, racing pulse, and sweating disappear as the user begins to use regularly. » Use is repeated often—someone who smokes a pack a day takes about 75,000 puffs a year. » When users try to quit, they experience un-pleasant withdrawal symptoms like irritability, anxiety, hunger, headaches, and an intense craving for tobacco. » Smokers relapse after quitting at the same rate as heroin addicts. » Nicotine stimulates the brain the same way as cocaine, morphine, and amphetamines—it releases dopamine in the brain. Why some people get hooked and others don’t. You have to take that first cigarette or pinch of chewing tobacco to begin to get hooked. Most kids and adults use their heads and just never start—the very best way to avoid addiction. What about the others? Depressed and anxious people may be more prone to addiction. ey may use tobacco to feel better, and may suffer more when they try to quit. Genes may play a part here, too, since a tendency towards depression and anxiety can be inherited. It’s interesting that one of the cessation aisd is an anti-depressant medication. Peer pressure is probably the #1 reason kids start smoking—and most smokers start when they’re under 18. If smoking is considered “cool” in their peer groups, some kids just can’t resist. e good news is that there are now many anti-tobacco campaigns, which highlight the not- so-cool effects of smoking. And they’re working. Tobacco use is deadly, expensive, and often socially unacceptable. So why doesn’t everyone stop? Learn the facts about tobacco addiction and the latest on how to quit. BROCHURES The information contained in this brochure has been carefully reviewed for accuracy. It is not intended to replace the advice of your physician or health care provider. A PUBLICATION OF 17002 MARCY STREET, SUITE 140 | OMAHA, NE 68118 402.827.3590 | WELCOA.ORG © 2017 Wellness Council of America 200226 Information may not be reproduced, copied, cited or circulated in any printed or electronic form without written permission from the publisher. BROCHURES Journey to Quitting Kick the Habit and nicotine dependence N.O.P.E. Not One Puff Ever Even one cigarette during the quit plan will make it harder to stay quit. Disease and death are remote consequences to a teenage smoker. But the idea of having stinky breath, hair, and clothes are convincing deterrents that are important to highlight. SAMPLE