Tobacco in Nebraska

Tobacco is a drug that children will be exposed to from a very young age and through their life.  Even though smoking numbers are down, it still remains the leading  cause of preventable mortality in the U.S.A. as reported by the Department of Health and Human Services.  In Nebraska vital statistics show an extimated 2,400 people die each year from smoking related diseases and smoking-related medical cost in the state total an estimated $537 million annually (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids).

The good news is that smoking rates among American teens are at their lowet in 10 years.  The Monitoring the Future (MTF) study that surveys a national sample of 45,000 students in approximately 400 secondary schools since 1991 reports that 208 represents the low point for smoking in all three grades (8th, 10th, 12th) they surveyed.  As compared to the rates of a decade ago 8th graders smoking rates are down by two thirds, 10th graders by more than half, and 12th graders by nearly half.

The decline of tobacco usage among Nebraska youth is consistent with the national average.  However, when looking at the following statistics we can see that the problem is still a concern that needs attention.  According to the Nebraska Behavioral Risk Factor Report of 2005:

• 16.5% of students reported smoking a whole cigarette for the first time before age 13.
• 53.4 % of middle school and high school students have tried smoking.
• 55.5% current student smokers tried to quit smoking during the past 12 months.

Since 2005, the decline in the youth smoking rate has dwindled and remained almost the same in 2007. Generally, Nebraska's youth smoking rate follows the national average. However the 2007 Youth Behavior Risk Survey results show that Nebraska's youth smoking rate has gone up slightly higher, which puts Nebraska's youth using more tobacco than the national average. (Tobacco Free Nebraska 2009 Report)

Cigarette smoke is composed of a large number of different substances that affect many parts of the body. Cigarette "tar" - a short name for the condensed solid particles in smoke - contains about 4,000 known chemicals, including poisons, and 50 cancer-causing substances . Many have been linked to disease. Some of the chemicals and poisonous gases in cigarette smoke are: arsenic, acetone (used in paint stripper and nail polish remover), ammonia, carbon monoxide, cyanide, mercury, nicotine and lead. Heart and circulatory disease, lung and other cancers, emphysema and chronic bronchitis have been linked with a number of these substances. (http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide.aspx?sc_lang=en)

How cigarettes are harmful
The moment the smoke from cigarettes touches the lips, it begins to attack living cells. It continues to do so wherever it goes: mouth, tongue, throat, esophagus, air passages, lungs and stomach. The cigarette's breakdown products eventually reach the: bladder, pancreas, kidneys, breast, colon and cervix.

Nicotine
Nicotine (found naturally in tobacco plants) is a powerful stimulant to the brain and central nervous system. It is extremely addictive. When inhaling cigarette smoke:

• The smoker gets an immediate, concentrated dose of nicotine in the bloodstream.
• Nicotine hits the brain within 7 seconds - faster than mainlining heroin.
• Nicotine causes blood pressure to rise and increases heart rate.
• Nicotine may also have a depressant effect.

The first daily dose of nicotine stimulates the large bowel while curbing appetite and slowing digestion. It lowers skin temperature and reduces blood circulation in the legs and arms. This makes the heart work harder. Nicotine is very poisonous if consumed in large amounts and may cause nausea in new smokers or any smoker who gets too much of it. Sixty milligrams of nicotine taken at one time will kill the average adult human being by paralysing breathing. The reason it doesn't kill smokers quickly is that it is taken in tiny doses, which are quickly metabolized and excreted by the body.

Carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke
Carbon monoxide in smoke replaces the oxygen in red blood cells. This forms a chemical called carboxyhemoglobin (COHb). When you smoke, nicotine causes the heart to work harder while the carboxyhemoglobin takes away the oxygen your heart then needs more of to work properly. Carbon monoxide also promotes cholesterol deposits in arteries.