Tobacco is usually smoked in cigarettes, pipes or cigars. In NSW, cigarettes, cigars and tobacco are not legally available to people under the age of 18 years. Retailers must legally ask for proof of age before selling tobacco products. It is illegal for adults to purchase cigarettes for people under the age of 18 years.
Health effects
Smoking kills more than 19,000 Australians every year, which is more than the number of deaths caused by heroin, cocaine and other illicit drugs, alcohol, AIDS, murder, suicide, road crashes, plane crashes and drowning put together. Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death and disease in Australia.
What's in a cigarette? (It's enough to make you sick. Very sick).
Nicotine is a drug found in tabacco. It is a highly toxic chemical which can affect your heart rate, increase your blood pressure and decrease your blood circulation. Tar is just one of the cancer-causing agents in cigarettes.
There are over 43 known cancer-causing agents in cigarette smoke. Other ingredients found in cigaretter smoke include:
- carbon monoxide (poisonous gas in car exhaust)
- toluene (industrial solvent)
- methanol (used for rocket fuel)
- cadmium (used in car batteries) – a known cancer causing substance!
- ammonia (used in floor cleaner)
- hydrogen cyanide (poison used in gas chamber)
- acetone (paint stripper)
- arsenic (white ant poison)
- butane (lighter fuel)
- naphthalene (mothballs)
- DDT (insecticide)
Passive Smoking
Passive Smoking kills over 140 people every year in Australia.
Passive Smoke, also known as sidestream smoke, secondhand smoke and now more commonly known as environmental tobacco smoke, is a combination of two types of tobacco smoke – Sidestream Smoke & Exhaled Mainstream Smoke.
There are three types of tobacco smoke:
1. Sidestream Smoke: Smoke that drifts from the end of a lit cigarette/cigar/pipe
2. Exhaled Mainstream Smoke: Smoke that is breathed out from a smoker’s lungs after a puff on their cigarette/cigar/pipe
3. Mainstream smoke: Smoke that is directly breathed in through the burning cigarette/cigar/pipe by the smoker
Passive Smoking contributes to hazardous health effects including:
- middle ear infections
- bronchitis
- pneumonia
- tonsilitis
- reduced lung function
- asthma attacks
- cancer
- miscarriage/ stillbirth
- increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
- coughing/wheezing
- eye & nose irritation
- headaches & nausea
For more information on passive smoking, see Smoke Free Zone or click onto The Cancer Council NSW’s Fact Sheets.
Since the year 2000, NSW has had legislation banning smoking in most enclosed public places, including restaurants (NSW Smoke Free Environment Act 2000). Most workplaces are also now smoke free.
If you smoke you increase your risk of the following:
- early aging of the skin
- impotence in men
- reduced fitness
- respiratory problems including pneumonia, bronchitis and asthma
- cancer of the lung, larynx, prostate, breast and bowel (to name just a few)
- heart disease
- Type II diabetes
- Smoking during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and severe illnesses in early infancy
For visually graphic health effects, check out The Smoker’s Body.
Social effects
Social effects of smoking include:
- addiction
- high cost
- bad breath
- impotence in men
- smelly clothes and hair
- stained fingers and teeth
An addiction to cigarettes is becoming harder to maintain with all the limits placed on smoking in public places and at work. If you do continue to smoke in those places you risk not only criticism but legal action.
Helping friends
If you or a friend needs help to quit smoking you can contact the NSW Quitline on 131 848. For online help, click on Quit.
Hooked
Most smokers develop nicotine dependence as nicotine is an extremely addictive drug, and is difficult to quit. Nicotine withdrawal symptoms can include severe headaches, sleeping problems, shakes, irritability, stomach upsets and cravings. These are usually short term. A drug and alcohol worker at your local community health centre, can provide assistance with treating nicotine dependence.