Tobacco | Hood River Prevents

Tobacco & Nicotine [1]

In Oregon it is illegal for anyone under 21 years old to buy or use tobacco.

Tobacco is a plant that is grown to make cigars, cigarettes, hookah, and chewing & smokeless tobacco.

Tobacco has in it a chemical called nicotine. Nicotine is what makes tobacco products addictive. When nicotine enters the body, it makes the brain release dopamine which creates pleasure feelings. Because of this, people can get hooked on tobacco products.

Nicotine is also found in e-cigarettes and vape products. E-cigarettes/vape do not contain actual tobacco, but they are still just as addictive as tobacco products.

Click here for links to more information about vaping

Using cigarettes, hookah, chew, vape, and all nicotine/tobacco products release many other toxic chemicals. These chemicals cause cancer and increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, pneumonia, and other diseases.

Secondhand smoke is the smoke released into the air when using cigars, cigarettes, vape, etc.

Secondhand smoke carries the same toxic chemicals into other people's lungs, even if they are not smoking.

Source: [1] National Institute on Drug Abuse. "Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products." 2018.

https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/cigarettes-other-tobacco-products.

Video Source: David Geffen School of Medicine UCLA. "Electronic Cigarettes and Vaping." 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dZS_Rniak0.