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By Carrernav and The Australian Drug Foundation

Tobacco 

Tobacco originates from the leaves of the tobacco plant. These leaves contain nicotine, which is a stimulant drug, and therefore increases the speed of messages passing between the brain and the body. Tobacco-based products include cigarettes, cigars, wet and dry snuff, pipe tobacco, and chewing tobacco.

There are three major chemicals in tobacco smoke: nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide. However, these chemicals make up three out of the 4000 chemicals in tobacco smoke. Some smokers use light or low tar cigarettes, but research shows that these smokers are at the same risk of getting diseases as regular cigarette smokers.

The effects of tobacco include mild euphoria, increased alertness and concentration, immediate stimulation, but consequent reduction in brain activity, heightened blood pressure and heart rate, relaxation, dizziness, nausea, lack of appetite, and decreased taste and smell.

Other effects of tobacco smoke are caused by the tar in cigarettes coating the lungs, and according to medical research lung and throat cancer. The carbon monoxide makes the body work harder, as it lessens oxygen levels in the muscles, brain and blood. Long-term effects of smoking can include narrowed airways, raised blood pressure, cancer, and heightened risk of heart disease.

Passive smoking, where a person does not actually smoke themselves, but inhales the exhaled smoke of others around them, can also contribute to health problems such as heart disease and lung cancer.

There are a few methods to quit smoking. People may choose nicotine replacement therapy, going cold turkey, counseling or other advice, alternative therapies like acupuncture and hypnosis, pharmacotherapies, and support groups.    

For more information on drugs and their effects, visit the Australian Drug Foundation website:

www.druginfo.adf.org.au

www.adf.org.au

www.somazone.com.au