ABUSE MAGAZINE
For
many
decades,
local
and state health departments,
schools, and federal programs
have taken steps to protect youth
from tobacco use. But in recent
years, many of these efforts have
been scaled back. We know what
works to keep young people tobacco-free, but we don’t always do
what is necessary. We have already
made some progress in reducing
tobacco use by youth. Let’s finish
what we started and make the
next generation tobacco free.
The lungs of young smokers
don’t perform as well as those of
nonsmokers. Because their lungs
don’t work as well, they are short
of breath and may have more trouble participating in sports and
other physical activities. Even
though people who stop smoking
will improve their health dramatically, early lung damage doesn’t
go away completely in most cases.
THE SOLUTIONS
SMOKING CAN LEAD
TO CANCER
Prevention is critical. If young people
don’t start using tobacco by age 26, they
almost certainly will never start. The good
news is that there are many things we can do
to help keep teens and young adults tobacco-free. We can:
Tobacco smoke contains about 70 chemicals that can cause cancer. It’s no surprise,
then, that smoking causes about one in three
of all cancer deaths in the United States. And
it can cause cancer almost anywhere in the
body by damaging DNA.
• Create a world where seeing people
smoke or use other tobacco products
is the exception, not the norm.
Youth—a Great Time to Quit
• Take steps that make it harder for
youth to use tobacco, such as raising
cigarette prices and enforcing laws that
prohibit the sale of tobacco to children.
• Further limit tobacco marketing that
is likely to be seen by young people.
• Limit youth exposure to smoking
in movies and other media.
• Educate young people and help
them make healthy choices.
• Set an example—encourage
young people to avoid tobacco
use by quitting ourselves.
The good news: Smokers who quit before
age 30 will undo much of the health damage
caused by tobacco use.
“Proud to help bring
out the BEST in our
kids. We care and
get involved!”
3537 Singing Hills Blvd.
Sioux City, IA
712-255-2255
712-233-1212
2328 Riverside Blvd.
Sioux City, IA
Kids say NO to
peer pressure &
DRIVE-THRU an
ABUSE Free Life!
Sapp Bros.
Travel Center & Cafe
Proud supporters of
our kids & community
2608 S. 24th St. - Council Bluffs, IA
712-322-3000
Why Is It So Hard to Quit?
Tobacco users often get hooked on nicotine— the drug in cigarettes, cigars, and
smokeless tobacco (snuff and chewing
tobacco). Many teens and young adults plan
to quit using tobacco after a few years but
find out too late how powerfully addictive
nicotine can be. Like heroin and cocaine,
nicotine acts on the brain and creates feelings of pleasure or satisfaction. Young brains
are still developing. That may be one reason
many teens feel dependent on tobacco after
using it for only a short time.
Quitting isn’t easy, but it
can be done.
Better yet—don’t start!
Not starting is even
better than quitting. Their
health depends on it!
We at KFC’s are proud to
support our drug free youth
and we are proud to be an
ABUSE Free workplace!
1751 Madison Ave. - Bldg. 6
Council Bluffs, IA
712-322-1166
2810 W. Broadway
Council Bluffs, IA
712-322-5542
abusemagazine.org | Iowa - 2014 |
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