Gateway Drugs-Cigarette

• Gateway drug - theory that states the use of certain drugs may lead to an increased risk in health
• Reasons why people smoke:

  Peer pressure

  Curiosity

  Enjoyment & Pleasure

  Eases away depression

  Create a social atmosphere ( sense of isolation)

  Relief problems, stress and anxiety

  To belong to a group
• Trending cigar in todays generation is called E-cigarettes or vapes
• Nicotine - highly addictive chemical

  - narrows down arteries & increase blood pressure
• Carbon dioxide - reduces oxygen
• Short term effects of smoking:

  bad breath

  yellow & brown stains on teeth

  smelly hair & clothes

  lost athletic ability

  damaged respiratory system

  decrease lung capacity

  limited lung growth

  chronic cough

  increased bronchitis

  asthma

  elevated heartbeat
• Long term effects:

  >heart disease

  -hypertension

  -heart attacks

  -block blood vessels

  -strokes

  > Reproductive Damage

  -Abnormal sperm cell

  -impotence

  -difficulty in maintaining pregnancy

  -menstrual disorders & menopause

  > Birth effects

  -miscarriage

  -low birth weight

  -premature birth

  -sudden infant death syndrome

  >Cancer

  -lung

  -throat

  -mouth
• >Lung disease

  -emphysema

  -chronic bronchitis
• Smoking in brain

  -increases brain receptor for nicotine in risk of addiction
• Gateway drugs:

  -Cigarettes

  -Alcohol

  -Marijuana