1. Teen Smoking Prevention

2. Teen Smoking Prevention
Tobacco use primarily begins in adolescence
1/3 of all smokers have smoked before 14
90% of all smokers begin before 21
Current trends predict 6.4 million current children smokers will die prematurely due to smoking

3. Mortality Statistics
Tobacco use is the #1 preventable cause of death in the United States
Smoking causes 440,000 deaths per year
This equates 1 of every 5 deaths
Each year an estimated 35,000 deaths are attributed to exposure to second hand smoke
The average smoker dies years earlier than non-smokers

4. Mortality Statistics Leading Causes of Death from smoking
Lung Cancer (124,000 per year)
Cancer is the #2 leading cause of death in U.S.
Heart Disease (111,000 per year)
Heart Disease is the #1 leading cause of death in the U.S.
Chronic Lung Disease (82,000)
Chronic Lung Disease is the #4 leading cause of death in the U.S.

5. Mortality Statistics

6. Smoking Related Illnesses

7. The Teen Mind The Teen Mind differs from the Adult Mind Psychosocial
The Limbic System, which is the center for emotion, is well developed in adolescence
The Frontal Cortex, which controls emotion, is not fully developed
Psychosocial
This is a period of turmoil and a search for identity
Teens often turn to peers to aid in the search for identity

8. Addiction What causes Nicotine to be addictive?
Nicotine binds to receptors in the brain that activate the reward system (limbic system)
The smoker is rewarded for smoking which then positively reinforces the smoker
Nicotine alters brain function in a fashion that requires nicotine in order to maintain normal levels of dopamine (neurotransmitter that acts in limbic system)

9. Addiction in Teens Is addiction different in teens?
Teens seek sensation due to there emotional nature
Nicotine acts on the same parts of the brain that cause there emotional states
Teens are more likely to start smoking because of peers

10. Program Goals
The goal is to educate teens on what smoking actually does to the human body
The field trip is designed to appeal to the emotional mind of teens
In the end, this will reduce teen smoking