An Educational Perspective Based on Information Contained In The Indiana Prevention Resource Center Factline on Tobacco.

By the end of this presentation: you will have… (1) Been exposed to general information about tobacco. (2) Learned some basic facts about tobacco users in Indiana. (3) Viewed the potential consequences of tobacco use, both short-term and long-term. (4) Learned about prevention efforts in Indiana. Indiana Prevention Resource Center

Tobacco is harvested, dried and shredded into the loose brown substance recognized in cigarettes, dip, snuff and pipe tobacco. It is commonly machine rolled and packaged. Tobacco, from the plant Nicotinia Tabacum, is a green broadleaf plant with white flowers. It is grown in large fields or greenhouses all over the world. The curing process can affect the taste and smell of the finished product. Also, cyclical aromatic hydrocarbons are added to give the tobacco a myriad of flavors, especially common in pipe tobacco.

Indiana Prevention Resource Center Tobacco products are sold as: Cigarettes Cigars Smokeless Tobacco Bidis (Flavored Cigarettes) Kreteks (Clove Cigarettes) Loose Leaf Tobacco

Indiana Prevention Resource Center Tobacco products are used among all demographic populations: Cigarettes are the most common use of tobacco products in the United States, with males (25%) using slightly more than females (21%). An estimated 80% of adult smokers started smoking tobacco before the age of 18. Nicotine is considered by some to be America’s “gateway” drug, as there have been correlations of tobacco smokers having a greater likelihood to use other drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine and alcohol, than non-smokers.

Indiana Prevention Resource Center Today, 46.5 million adults in the United States smoke cigarettes. Indiana has the 5th highest prevalence rate of adult smokers in the United States. In 2003, Indiana adolescents reported an average monthly cigarette usage higher than the national average. However, each year Indiana is closing the gap between national and state monthly cigarette usage.

Indiana Prevention Resource Center Tobacco products are sold legally in the United States to persons over the age of 18. Adults typically purchase tobacco products through retail outlets, tobacco stores, vending machines and some restaurants and bars. It is illegal for persons under the age of 18 to purchase tobacco products in the United States. Minors can also acquire tobacco products through friends and family members.

Indiana Prevention Resource Center Tobacco use accounts for about one-third of all cancer deaths in the United States and is the single most preventable cause of premature deaths. Each year more than 400,000 Americans die from cigarette smoking One in every five deaths in the U.S. is attributed to cigarette smoking.

Indiana Prevention Resource Center Nicotine is the main addictive toxin found in tobacco. In large quantities, it can kill the average person. In smaller doses, 1-2 mg, it can cause serious addiction. In adults, cigarette smoking causes long-term health effect, such as heart and lung disease, cancers, and strokes.

Indiana Prevention Resource Center Teenagers who smoke suffer short-term health effects including: Increased frequency of respiratory illness Asthma Bronchitis Colds Short term use of spit tobacco can cause: Cracked lips White spots, Sores Bleeding in the mouth

Indiana Prevention Resource Center It is a violation of the law for a person under the age of 18 to purchase tobacco or accept tobacco for personal use. A person who knowingly sells or distributes tobacco to a person less than 18 years of age violates the law. Violators of the following laws commit a Class C infraction, for which the usual fine is a maximum of $500.

The Indiana Prevention Resource Center’s Survey on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use by Indiana Children and Adolescents; Data from The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute The National Institute on Drug Abuse Indiana Prevention Resource Center

Content in this presentation based, in part, on a Factline produced by Bilesha Perera, Ph.D, MS in 2005 and © The Indiana Prevention Resource Center. Contact us Indiana Prevention Resource Center 2735 East 10th Street, CA110 Bloomington, IN Phone: or Fax: The Indiana Prevention Resource Center is funded, in part, by a contract with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, financially supported through HHS/Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. The IPRC is operated by the Indiana University Department of Applied Health Science and School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. It is affiliated with the Department's Institute of Drug Abuse Prevention. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Trustees of Indiana University or the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. Indiana University accepts full responsibility for the content of this publication. © Copyright, 2005 by the Trustees of Indiana University. Indiana Prevention Resource Center