Tobacco leaves are often smoked in the form of a cigar or cigarette, smoking pipe, water pipe, or a hookah. The active ingredient in tobacco is Nicotine, which is a stimulant. Tobacco is also chewed, "dipped" (placed between the cheek and gum), and sniffed into the nose as finely powdered snuff. Tobacco use contributes to nearly 440,000 deaths each year in the U.S.

According to the National Center of Health Statistics (NCHS) there were 21.5 million people over the age of 18 that smoked cigarettes (2003). It is estimated that the first experimentation of tobacco may be as early as 10-11 years old!  23.3% of our adult population are current smokers (2000).  1 of every 7 deaths in MN is related to tobacco related illnesses.  Every 6.5 seconds, someone in the world dies due to tobacco related illnesses.

Those who use tobacco often have respiratory problems; wheezing, coughing, frequent colds, asthma, bronchitis and potential for lung diseases/cancer. They also often have bad breath, smelly hair and clothes, yellow stained teeth and fingers, decreased smell and taste, bleeding gums and frequent mouth sores (smokeless tobacco).

Cigarette smoking is the most devastating and preventable cause of disease and premature death in world history. Every year about 4.2 million people worldwide die due to their addiction to tobacco, by the year 2030 that number is expected to rise to 10 million people dying a year! Cigarette companies are allowed to sell the one and only product, that when used properly, kills people!

For additional information on Tobacco, check out these websites;

Tobacco Prevention and Control
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpcd/tpc/tpc.html

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
http://www.tobaccofreekids.org

TIPS – CDC’s Tobacco Information and Prevention Source
http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco

Tobacco and Cancer
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/ped_10.asp?sitearea=PED

What Are You Smoking
www.whatareyousmoking.org