Tobacco Awareness: Introduction
Tobacco has been smoked, chewed, and inhaled ever since it was introduced in Europe in the 16th century. It is now known to be a highly addictive substance, harmful to health, and a cause for many diseases, including emphysema and cancer.
There are over 4,000 chemicals in tobacco—among them is nicotine. Nicotine, the psychoactive ingredient in tobacco, is toxic. It is used as the active ingredient in some insecticides, and exposure to nicotine in its purest form causes poisoning and death. Nicotine is not only toxic, it is highly addictive.
As in all addictions, the user develops a tolerance for nicotine. The user also experiences withdrawals when denied cigarettes, and the psychological addiction lasts longer than the physical addiction.
