Tobacco resources online: discover the facts

Written by Sarah Gehrke, MSN, RN

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than half of the people who use tobacco die as a result of its effects. Many people embrace tobacco as a calming agent and a recreational prop. This addictive substance, however, results in many health risks ranging from heart disease to cancer.

The National Cancer Institute reports that tobacco contains at least 28 different cancer-causing chemicals including nitrosamines. In addition to that, trace amounts of arsenic and acetone are regularly found in tobacco.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows:

Cigarette smoking causes about one of every five deaths in the United States each year.

Even if tobacco users could avoid the impact of carcinogens, they may not escape other detriments. Bone loss and tooth decay afflict many tobacco users killing mouth cells and reducing the levels of vitamin C in the body. Despite that, fact sheets show that more than 4,000 join the ranks of tobacco users daily.

Studies show that wily advertising campaigns aimed at kids and tempting flavored cigarettes snag youngsters into tobacco use as early as sixth grade. The following fact sheets provide information and trace the impact of widespread tobacco use.

Tobacco facts and fact sheets

• World tobacco facts: This factsheet by the CDC suggests that by 2030, more than 8 million will have died annually from tobacco use.

• Tobacco tidbits: This PBS fact sheet offers a range of miscellaneous tobacco facts including the statement that tobacco-based cigarettes are also laced with arsenic.

• Smokeless forms of tobacco: Discusses not just cigarettes and chewing tobacco but also various forms of smokeless tobacco.

• Tobacco marketing: Preventing tobacco use among youth and young adults: A Report of the Surgeon General.

• Global tobacco control data: The Global Tobacco Surveillance System Data (GTSS Data) provides data from four tobacco-related surveys conducted around the world.

• This report looks at the tobacco trends of adolescents: This fact sheet looks at how teens are exposed to tobacco and what their perceptions are of the substance.

• Fact sheet directory: This directory of fact sheets by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention includes links to facts on the toll of tobacco and its prevention.

• Tobacco labels: This factsheet offers information warning statement requirements on tobacco labels.

• Difficulties of quitting: This Massachusetts fact sheet looks at the difficulties of quitting, suggesting that as much as 61 percent of Massachusetts smokers tried to quit and could not.

• Flavored tobacco: This FDA fact sheet looks at the lure of flavored tobacco which is tempting especially for the youth.

• Hypnotherapy for smoking cessation: This randomized controlled trial shows that hypnotherapy is more effective than nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation.

• Complementary health approaches for smoking cessation: Review this clinical digest to understand different mind-body modalities.

Tobacco health facts

• Tobacco and cancer: This fact sheet from the National Cancer Institute identifies 28 carcinogens in tobacco and offers other startling facts.

• Impact on oral health: This fact sheet explores the dangers tobacco poses to gums, teeth, throat and mouth linings.

• Second-hand effects: This report from the Surgeon General suggests that even second-hand smoke from tobacco-based cigarettes contains dozens of carcinogenic chemicals.

• Unhealthy pesticides: Chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc. have been sprayed on tobacco crops for as long as they’ve been available. This is because the tobacco plant seems to have a whole array of insects that like to feed on every part of it.

Tobacco use facts and fact sheets

• Tobacco use among teens: The site identifies the prevalence of tobacco use among youth ages 12 to 17.

• Kids & tobacco:This list contains links to fact sheets concerning children and tobacco including links to the studies on tobacco marketing which targets children.** **The site offers the option of researching facts by state.

• Use trends: This factsheet by Healthy Maine Partnerships looks at tobacco use among middle school students and high school students.

• Children learn by example and adult responsibility (PDF): A helpful guide on how to have tobacco-free children.

• Daily use: This site suggests that each day, more than 2,500 kids in the United States try their first cigarette.