Drug Abuse

Question by bluebeard: how many different tobacoo products are there?
ex cigerettes cigars

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Answer by waymuchmorebetter
4

Answer by BigSexyMami
Types of tobacco

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Tobacco use is responsible for nearly one in five deaths in the United States.”

“For each 1,000 tons of tobacco produced, about 1,000 people eventually will die. Lifelong smokers on average have a 50 percent chance of dying from tobacco-related illnesses, with half of these dying before the age of 70.”

The single greatest risk factor for oral cancer is tobacco. Oral cancer cases are seen in patients who do not use tobacco, however these specific cases constitute a small percentage (about 25 percent) of all oral cancers. All forms of tobacco have been implicated as causative agents including cigarette, cigar and pipe tobacco, as well as chewing tobacco. In India and Sri Lanka, where chewing tobacco is used with betel nuts and reverse smoking is practiced (placing the lit end in the mouth), there is a striking incidence of oral cancer – these cases account for as many as 50 percent of all cancers!

Tobacco can damage cells in the lining of the oral cavity and oropharynx, causing cells to grow more rapidly to repair the damage. Researchers believe that DNA-damaging chemicals in tobacco are linked to the increased risk of oral cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.

Cigarettes
“Each year, smoking kills more people than AIDS, alcohol, drug abuse, car crashes, murders, suicides, and fires – combined!”

“Cigarette smokers die younger than nonsmokers. In fact, smoking decreases a person’s life expectancy by 10-12 years. Smokers between the ages of 35 and 70 have death rates three times higher than those who have never smoked.”

“…while the odds for those trying crack or alcohol and becoming addicts are 1 in 6 and 1 in 10 respectively, they’re 9 in 10 for cigarette smokers,” reports the chief of clinical pharmacology, National Institute on Drug Abuse.

“Smoking is the single most preventable cause of death in our society.”

“More than 47 million adults in the United States smoke cigarettes despite the fact that this single behavior will result in the death or disability of half all its regular users.”

“Cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 430,000 deaths in the United States each year, or one in every five deaths.”

Cigarette smoking causes several lung diseases that can be just as dangerous as lung cancer. Chronic bronchitis, a disease in which the airways produce excess mucus, forcing the smoker to cough frequently, is a common ailment for smokers. Cigarette smoking is also the major cause of emphysema, a disease that slowly destroys a person’s ability to breathe. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, kills about 81,000 people each year; cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 65,000 of these deaths.

Smoking cigarettes also increases the risk of heart disease, which is America’s number one killer. Almost 180,000 Americans die each year from cardiovascular disease caused by smoking. Smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and lack of exercise are all risk factors for heart disease, but smoking alone doubles the risk of heart disease. Among those who have previously had a heart attack, smokers are more likely than non-smokers to have another.

In addition to being responsible for 87 percent of lung cancers, smoking is also associated with cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, pancreas, uterine cervix, kidney and bladder. Other popular forms of smoking include bidis (tobacco wrapped in a temburni leaf) and kreteks (commonly referred to as cloves), both equally as dangerous as tobacco alone.

Cigars and pipes
“It is not unusual for some premium cigars to contain the tobacco equivalent of an entire pack of cigarettes.”

“Cigars are a major source of secondhand smoke which contains over 4,000 chemicals – 200 are poisons, 63 of which cause cancer.”

It is a common misconception that smokers, particularly those who smoke pipes or cigars without inhaling, are excluded from physical harm or danger. In fact, anytime smoke touches living cells, it harms them. Even if cigarette, pipe or cigar smokers never inhale, they are at an increased risk for lip, mouth, tongue, throat and larynx cancers. Because it is virtually impossible to avoid inhaling any trace of smoke, these smokers are also increasing their risk of getting lung and esophageal cancer.

There are, however, some differences between cigar and cigarette smoke due to the different ways cigars and cigarettes are made. Cigars go through a long aging and fermentation process. During the fermentation process, high concentrations of carcinogenic compounds are produced. These compounds are released when a cigar is smoked. Also, cigar wrappers are less porous than cigarette wrappers. The nonporous cigar wrapper makes the burning of cigar tobacco less complete than cigarette tobacco. As a result, compared with cigarette smoke, the concentrations of toxins and irritants are higher in cigar smoke. In addition, the larger size of most cigars (more tobacco), and longer smoking time, produce higher exposures to nonsmokers of many toxic compounds (including carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, ammonia, cadmium and other substances) than a cigarette.

Like cigarette smoking, the risks from cigar smoking increase with enhanced exposure. For example, compared with someone who has never smoked, smoking only one to two cigars per day doubles the risk for oral and esophageal cancers. Smoking three to four cigars daily can increase the risk of oral cancers to more than eight times the risk for a nonsmoker, while the chance of esophageal cancer is increased to four times the risk for someone who has never smoked. Both cigar and cigarette smokers have similar levels of risk for oral, throat and esophageal cancers.

Although cigar smoking occurs primarily among males between the ages of 35 and 64 who have higher educational backgrounds and incomes, recent studies suggest new trends. Most new cigar users today are teenagers and young adult males (ages 18-24) who smoke occasionally (less than daily). According to two large statewide studies conducted among California adults in 1990 and 1996, cigar use has increased nearly five times among women and appears to be increasing among adolescent females as well. Furthermore, a number of studies have reported high rates of use among not only teens, but also preteens. Cigar use among older males (age 65 and older), however, has continued to decline since 1992.

Celebrities have recently publicized cigar smoking, and multiple nightclubs and restaurants are promoting new cigar smoking sections. The introduction of “cigar bars” and the sub-culture of cigar paraphernalia such as humidors and clippers have combined to create a glamorous aura around a deadly product. Total cigar consumption declined by about 66 percent from 1973 until 1993. Cigar use has increased more than 50 percent since 1993. The increase in cigar use in the early 1990’s coincided with an increase in promotional media activities for cigars. Many new cigar aficionados may not be aware that smoke from cigars contains the same deadly carcinogens as those from cigarettes. Congress did not explicitly include cigars in the 1984 law requiring health warnings on cigarettes, so cigar packages bear no warning from the US Surgeon General. Overall cancer deaths among men who smoke cigars are 34 percent higher than nonsmokers. Studies also indicate that cigar smokers have 4-10 times the risk of nonsmokers of dying from laryngeal, oral, or esophageal cancers. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, cigar consumption hit an estimated 3.7 billion in 1999.

Smokeless tobacco
Did you know that the average age of first-time users of smokeless tobacco is 10 years old? Or that female youth are turning to smokeless tobacco as a means to lose or control weight?

Statistics & Facts on Smokeless Tobacco
*Smokeless tobacco is a known carcinogen (U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Report on Carcinogens, December 2002)

*Approximately 27,260 new cases of oral cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2004; nearly two-thirds are male. Estimated deaths from oral cancer in 2004 are at 4,830 men and 2,400 women. (American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures 2004)

*Long term snuff users may be 50 percent more at risk for cancer of the cheek and gums. (American Cancer Society)

*Smokeless tobacco is also believed to contribute to cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure because the nicotine gets into the bloodstream through the lining of the mouth and/or the gastrointestinal tract. And nicotine cause the heart to beat faster and blood pressure to rise. (American Cancer Society)

*Smokeless tobacco users increase their risk of cancers of the oral cavity, throat, larynx and esophagus. (American Cancer Society)

*Nearly 600,000 females over age 12 in the U.S. use smokeless tobacco (National Institute of Drug Abuse – an agency of the National Institutes of Health, March 2001)

*Leukoplakia, white patches and oral lesions on the cheeks, gums or tongue, is commonly found present in smokeless tobacco users. Leukoplakia can be an early indicator of oral cancer. About 75 percent of daily users of smokeless tobacco will get leukoplakia. (American Cancer Society)

*Leukoplakia can develop within just one week of starting use of smokeless tobacco. (The Mayo Clinic)

*Dipping 8 to 10 times a day can bring as much nicotine into the body as smoking 30-40 cigarettes (Spit Tobacco: Does Smokeless Mean Harmless, 2001 Mayo Clinic report)

*Smokeless tobacco users absorb two to three times the amount of addictive nicotine as those who smoke cigarettes. (National Cancer Institute)

*”I cannot conclude that the use of any tobacco product is a safer alternative to smoking. This message is especially important to communicate to young people, who may perceive smokeless tobacco as a safe form of tobacco use.” (U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona, MD, June 2003 testimony)

*46.4 percent of current tobacco users who are in middle school live in a household where someone else uses smokeless tobacco. (2002 Ohio Youth Tobacco Survey, Ohio Department of Health)

*Chewing tobacco contains 28 carcinogens, including tobacco-specific nitrosamines. Other cancer-causing substances include formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, crotonaldeyde, hydrazine, arsenic, nickel, cadmium, benzopyrene and polonium (which gives off radiation). (National Cancer Institute)

Tips to Reduce the Prevalence and Use of Smokeless Tobacco Among Youth and Teens
*Support organizations that oppose advertising and glorification of tobacco and tobacco products.

*Support warning labels on all such products.

*Support your dentist’s anti-tobacco message and efforts.

*Support – through local and state legislators – the Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Trust Fund, specifically for a portion of its use to further education about the dangers of smokeless tobacco and other products.

*Encourage youth to focus on strong role models, including athletes, who endorse a no-use policy of smokeless tobacco.

*Stress how much money can be saved by not using tobacco products.

*School and community-based anti-use programs have proven successful in lowered incidence and prevalence and higher influence to not use on teens, according to the CDC.

*Restrict access to minors; create and implement tighter restrictions and penalties. Support those business that refuse to sell to minors.

*Parents, coaches and others with influence need to learn about the perils of smokeless tobacco, and speak informatively to youth. Parents, coaches and others with influence who smoke or use smokeless tobacco will set the best example for youth by quitting.

*Talk with youth about ways to refuse without feeling peer pressure.

*Explain that the glamorization of tobacco products is a false image.

*Ensure that youth activities, whether in-home or in another setting, are tobacco, drug, and alcohol free.

*Encourage your school district to adopt a no-use, no-tolerance policy against tobacco, alcohol and drugs. Then support that policy, and insist that coaches and teachers adhere to such policies, even when the star athlete is involved.

“People who consume 8 to 10 dips or chews per day receive the same amount of nicotine as a heavy smoker who smokes 30 to 40 cigarettes a day.”

“For smokeless tobacco users, the risk of cancer to the cheek and gum is nearly 50 times greater than non-users.” (American Cancer Society, 1998).

“Many athletes, especially baseball players, use smokeless tobacco. A study conducted from 1988-1990 found that 37.5 percent were smokeless tobacco users. Most preferred moist snuff.”

“According to the 1997 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, 92 percent of smokeless tobacco users are male.”

“Smokeless “spit” tobacco contains over 2,000 chemicals, many of which have been directly related to causing cancer.”

There are two types of smokeless tobacco – snuff and chewing tobacco. Snuff, a finely ground tobacco, is packaged as dry, moist, or in sachets (tea bag-like pouches). Typically, the user places a pinch or dip between the cheek and gum. Sniffing (inhaling) dry snuff through the nose is more common in European countries than in the United States. Chewing tobacco is available in loose leaf, plug or twist forms, with the user putting a wad of tobacco inside the cheek. Smokeless tobacco is sometimes called “spit” or “spitting” tobacco because people spit out the tobacco juices and saliva that build up in the mouth.

Chewing tobacco and snuff contain 28 carcinogens (cancer causing agents). The most harmful carcinogens in smokeless tobacco are the tobacco specific nitrosamines (TSNA’s). Snuff dippers consume on average more than 10 times the amount of cancer causing substances (nitrosamines) than cigarette smokers. They are formed during the curing, fermenting and aging of tobacco. TSNA’s have been detected in smokeless tobacco at levels 100 times higher than the levels of other nitrosamines that are allowed in bacon, beer and other foods. Other cancer causing substances in smokeless tobacco include formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, crotonaldehyde, hydrazine, arsenic, nickel, cadmium, benzopyrene, and polonium (which gives off radiation). Another element found in smokeless tobacco is nicotine. Nicotine is absorbed by smokeless tobacco users at a rate 2 to 3 times higher than that of cigarette smokers. Also, the nicotine stays in the bloodstream for a longer time. Some chewing tobacco products actually contain microscopic abrasives which speed the absorption of nicotine, and carcinogens into the cell membranes.

Smokeless tobacco is not a safe substitute for cigarettes. Studies indicate that the use of snuff and chewing tobacco is associated with an increased risk for oral cancer. It is particularly alarming that an increasing number if young people are using such products. Smokeless tobacco users increase their risks of cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx (throat), larynx, and esophagus. Oral cancer can include cancer of the lip, tongue, cheeks, gums, and the floor and roof of the mouth. People who use snuff have a much greater risk for cancer of the cheek and gum than people who do not use tobacco. Some of the other effects of smokeless tobacco include addiction to nicotine, oral leukoplakia (white mouth lesions that can become cancerous), gum disease, gum recession (when the gum pulls away, or recedes from the teeth), loss of bone in the jaw, tooth decay (a result of sugar additives to enhance the flavor of smokeless tobacco), tooth loss, tooth abrasion (worn spots on the teeth), yellowing of the teeth, chronic bad breath, unhealthy eating habits (smokeless tobacco lessens a person’s sense of taste and ability to smell, so users tend to eat saltier and sweeter foods which are both harmful in excess), high blood pressure (spit tobacco contains high concentrations of salt), and increased risk for cardiovascular (heart) disease and heart attacks.

Spit tobacco causes oral cancer by the following process: as tissue cells in these areas divide in an attempt to form a barrier against the tobacco, they are exposed to carcinogenic agents and can become cancerous. Pinpointing how long a spit tobacco user can chew or dip before getting oral cancer is difficult to do since it is impossible to predict when and if cells will become cancerous. Consequently, spit tobacco users risk oral cancer every time they use. Spit tobacco can also cause other types of cancers. Exposure to tobacco juice can induce cancers of the esophagus, larynx, stomach, pancreas and prostate.

Bill Tuttle

Bill Tuttle was a member of the Detroit Tigers in the mid-1950’s when a teammate gave him his first taste of spit tobacco. From that point forward, throughout his eleven-year Major League career, Bill was a regular spit tobacco user. In 1993, his doctor discovered a large malignant tumor in Bill’s mouth. As the doctors told Bill at that time, spit tobacco is a common cause oral cancer. Bill had five subsequent operations, but he kept fighting.

On July 27, 1998 Bill Tuttle passed away at the age of 69. He spent the last four years of his life traveling around the country with his wife Gloria on behalf of NSTEP, the National Spit Tobacco Education Program, telling Major and Minor League baseball players, oral health professionals and kids about how dangerous spit tobacco can be.

Tuttle emphasized that he had begun chewing tobacco innocently enough, and that no one ever indicated that it might be harmful. Perhaps no one even knew, way back in the 1950s, that tobacco caused cancer. It was advertised and promoted as an aid to digestive health and relaxation. But for Bill as for many, the end result of tobacco use was deadly. In 1993, he noticed a growing lump in his cheek, and went to have it checked out. Ironically enough, one recalls the endless images of ballplayers with a hunk of chaw bulging from their cheeks. The lump was cancer, and by the time it could be surgically removed, doctors had to take away most of the side of his face. Subsequent operations removed his whole jaw, and much of his throat lining. Reconstructive surgeons did all that they could, but when the operations were complete, Bill Tuttle looked so frightful that not even his grandchildren at first wanted to see him. He spent the last five years of his life working non-stop to warn kids and athletes about the dangers of chewing tobacco, and it seems clear that he had a significant impact on the problem. When he would walk into a professional baseball clubhouse and give his presentation, the players would often surreptitiously remove their wads of tobacco as soon as they saw him. On the way out after the team meeting, can after can of tobacco would be removed from the players’ back pockets and be deposited in the trash.