Quit Tobacco: The Basics

Tobacco products are both phsically addictive and habit forming.  Tobacco products contain nicotine, the addictive agent, and thousands of other chemical addititives that are designed to change or impact the way your body reacts to tobacco.  Additives may be natural or synthetic.  Even natural additives can be very harmful  (lead, arsenic, ammonia, glycerol), particularly when burned and inhaled.  Most tobacco users form habits or behaviors that revolve around tobacco use.  It can be just as difficult to break these habits as it can to fight the addiction to nicotine.  Quitting tobacco involves breaking the physical addiction and behavioral habits.

Since the first Surgeon’s General Report on Cigarettes, tobacco use and addiction has been studied by medical professionals, public health workers and the tobacco industry.  Here are links to a sampling of research.

A brief history of tobacco (CNN)

The benefits of quitting, costs and other info from the Guide to Qutting (American Cancer Society)

Are older smokers more at risk than young smokers? (American Lung Association)

Electronic cigarettes and other fact sheets.  (Public Health - Seattle & King County)

What's in a cigarette from the American Lung Association

Learn how cigarettes are made (YouTube) with clips featuring Dr. Jeffery Wigand (main character of The Insider movie)

Quitting smoking doesn’t just benefit you – it benefits those around you. Second hand smoke is hazardous.   If you aren’t ready to quit, consider taking it outside, and away from your loved ones.

Lung cancer kills more women than breast cancer. Learn about smoking and women here.

Talking to your kids about smoking?  Check out these resources for youth:

The Truth campaign - national youth prevention program funded by the American Legacy Foundation

No Stank You - Washington State's youth prevention campaign

More Resources:

Public Health - Seattle & King County tobacco cessation website

Washington State Department of Health tobacco control program