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Kids and Smoking
Cigarette Ingredients

There are over 4,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, some of which are included on the list below.  Children are especially susceptible to these poisons.  For them, exposure to secondhand smoke can cause middle ear effusion, decreased lung function, lower respiratory tract infections and increase the intensity of asthma conditions.

Acetone
Nail Polish Remover
Acetic Acid
Vinegar
Ammonia
Floor/Toilet Cleaner
Arsenic
Poison
Butane
Cigarette Lighter Fluid
Cadmium
Rechargeable Battery
Carbon Monoxide
Car Exhaust
DDT/ Dieldrin
Insecticides
Ethanol
Alcohol
Formaldehyde
Preservative - Body Tissue & Fabric
Hexamine
Barbecue Lighter
Hydrogen Cyanide
Gas Chamber Poison
Methane
Swamp Gas
Methanol
Rocket Fuel
Naphthalene
Mothballs
Nicotine
Insecticide/Addictive Drug
Nitrobenzene
Gasoline Additive
Nitrous Oxide Phenols
Disinfectant
Stearic Acid
Candle Wax
Toluene
Industrial Solvent
Vinyl Chloride
Makes PVC2


The Surgeon General's Report (SGR) for Kids about Smoking

6 Facts about Kids and Smoking

The SGR contains six major conclusions about kids and smoking:

Most people start using tobacco before they finish high school.
This means that if you stay smoke-free in school, you will probably never smoke.

Most teens who smoke are addicted to nicotine. They want to quit smoking, but they can't .
When they try to quit, they experience nasty withdrawal symptoms -- just like adults do.

Tobacco is often the first drug used by kids who use alcohol and illegal drugs like marijuana.

Kids who start smoking are more likely to get lower grades in school.
They tend to hang out with other kids who smoke.
They may have a low self-image, and they don't know how to say no to tobacco.

Cigarette advertisements are designed to make people think that smoking is cool and that everybody does it.
These misleading ads appear to increase kids' risk of smoking.

Finally, here's some good news! People working in their communities -- kids who warn each other
about the dangers of smoking, for example, and programs that make it harder
for stores to sell cigarettes to kids -- are helping to keep kids away from tobacco.

How to Stop!
Tips4Youth - The CDC's website with info on how to quit and the dangers of not quitting.
SmokeFree.org - A website with downloadable resources and tips.
The American Cancer Society - The information and help to use to stop smoking at any age.
QuitAssist - Online help from Phillip-Morris to stop smoking.