TobaccoTobacco(The Facts on Teen (The Facts on Teen

Smoking) Smoking)

HS 460 HS 460

2.7 million kids are established 2.7 million kids are established smokerssmokers

16.5 million kids, including one 16.5 million kids, including one million 11 year olds, are at risk for million 11 year olds, are at risk for becoming established smokers. At becoming established smokers. At risk kids included non-daily smokers, risk kids included non-daily smokers, experimenters, and kids who were experimenters, and kids who were open to smoking but had never open to smoking but had never smoked. smoked.

In one year of middle school, the In one year of middle school, the percent of kids who used tobacco percent of kids who used tobacco went from 12.8 to 15.2 percent. went from 12.8 to 15.2 percent.

Smoking is particularly harmful for Smoking is particularly harmful for teens because your body is still teens because your body is still growing and changing. The 200 growing and changing. The 200 known poisons in cigarette smoke known poisons in cigarette smoke affect your normal development and affect your normal development and can cause life-threatening diseases, can cause life-threatening diseases, such as chronic bronchitis, heart such as chronic bronchitis, heart disease, and stroke. disease, and stroke.

Cigarettes contain nicotine– a Cigarettes contain nicotine– a powerful addictive substance. Three-powerful addictive substance. Three-quarters of young people who use quarters of young people who use tobacco daily continue to do so tobacco daily continue to do so because they find it hard to quit. because they find it hard to quit.

Smoking is the leading preventable Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in this county. More cause of death in this county. More than 400,000 Americans die from than 400,000 Americans die from tobacco-related causes each year, tobacco-related causes each year, and most of them began using and most of them began using tobacco before the age of 18.tobacco before the age of 18.

More than 7 in 10 teen smokers are More than 7 in 10 teen smokers are still smoking 5 years after they start. still smoking 5 years after they start.

About 90% of all tobacco users start About 90% of all tobacco users start before age 18. before age 18.

Together we can stop teens from Together we can stop teens from shortening their lives by simply shortening their lives by simply keeping them away from and keeping them away from and understanding the effects of understanding the effects of cigarettes. cigarettes.