Introduction to Alcohol and Tobacco: Grade 6

TOBACCO

What is Tobacco? Tobacco is a green, leafy plant that is grown in warm climates. After it is picked, it is dried, ground up, and used in different ways. It can be smoked in a cigarette, pipe, or cigar. It can be chewed (called smokeless tobacco or chewing tobacco) or sniffed through the nose (called snuff).

What are Cigarettes? Product consumed via smoking and manufactured out of cured and finely cut tobacco leaves, which are combined with other additives, then rolled or stuffed into a paper wrapped cylinder. The cigarette is ignited (lit) at one end and allowed to smolder for the purpose of inhalation of its smoke from the other end, which is inserted into the mouth.

What is in a cigarette?

What is chewing tobacco? Form of smokeless tobacco. It is commonly referred to as dip--the act of using it is known as dipping, having a dip, or packing a lip

Pipe Tobacco

A cigar is a tightly rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco, one end of which is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the smoker’s mouth through the other end. Most cigar smokers do not inhale smoke.

Is it harmful? YES YOU DECIDE!

It is toxic at high doses!!! Nicotine is an alkaloid (chemical substance) derived from the tobacco plant that is responsible for smoking's psychoactive and addictive effects. It is toxic at high doses!!!

Physical Addiction- Nicotine is considered addictive because it alters brain functioning and because most people smoke compulsively. Very few people can smoke occasionally. Nicotine is a ‘reinforcing’ drug – smokers want it regardless of its damaging effects. It is considered a reinforcer because it causes many smokers to continue to smoke in order to avoid the pain of withdrawal symptoms. Addiction to tobacco (nicotine) is not immediate. It may take weeks or months to develop. People who begin smoking when they are in their teens tend to be more dependent than those who start smoking after age 20. Unlike cocaine, heroin or alcohol abuse, the more dangerous effects of tobacco use are not obvious in the beginning. As well, the pleasurable effects of tobacco may outweigh the abstract possibility of health consequences in the minds of many smokers.

Psychosocial addiction- Smoking gives pleasure: from the simple tactile and oral pleasure of handling and drawing on a cigarette to the comfort of a quick fix in times of anxiety, anger and other stress. Many people don’t find their first experience with tobacco pleasant. Initially, social pressure may cause addiction to develop. Once addicted, there are fewer external pressures to quit than there are with other addictions. Smokers are not in immediate danger of losing their jobs or families due to their addiction. More dangerous health effects are not obvious in the beginning.

Short term effects of tobacco use: Increased blood pressure Increased Heart Rate Arteries narrow Carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen the blood can carry.

Long Term Effects of Tobacco Use Chronic lung disease Coronary heart disease Stroke Cancer Emphysema 6. Impact on appearance

Teens Against Alcohol Use

ALCOHOL

What Is Alcohol? Alcohol is created when grains, fruits, or vegetables are fermented. Fermentation is a process that uses yeast or bacteria to change the sugars in the food into alcohol. Fermentation is used to produce many necessary items — everything from cheese to medications. Alcohol has different forms and can be used as a cleaner, an antiseptic, or a sedative.

Types of Alcohol: Beer: fermented alcoholic beverage brewed from malt and flavored with hops Wine: beverage made of fermented juice of any kind of grape, containing10-15% alcohol Liquor: alcoholic beverage made by distillation rather than fermentation

Short-Term Effects of Alcohol Use

Alcohol’s impact of your brain

Alcohol’s impact on your liver

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Is it worth it? YOU decide!