Narcotic Educational Foundation of America Drug Abuse Education Provider of the: California Narcotic Officers’ Association TOBACCO - SMOKE OR CHEW QUICK FACTS: The most common use of tobacco is for cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and chewing. Tobacco contains nicotine and other alkaloids. Alkaloids are nitrogen-containing organic compounds that are generally recognized as habit-forming and have a narcotic effect. This narcotic effect is considered to be the major reason for the worldwide appeal and use of tobacco products. It is unclear whether nicotine alone has a long-term health effect. Nicotine is known to constrict the blood vessels, raise the pulse rate and blood pressure, and can place a strain on the heart. Nicotine also suppresses the appetite. Of more than 4000 substances found in tobacco smoke, about 60 are associated with cancer or tumor formation. Two of the most dangerous components of tobacco smoke are carbon monoxide (a gas) and particulate substances, which are collectively known as tar. Continued exposure to the particulate substances damages the lungs and increases the smoker’s chances of developing such conditions as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. HISTORY OF DRUG History - (continued from column 1) Tobacco was already present in America METABOLIC The full-grown plant has large leaves that when Christopher Columbus arrived. He CONVERSION droop from a central stem. Large, sweet- found the natives using tobacco much the WITH DRUGS OF ABUSE scented flowers appear in a cluster at the same way as it is used in many parts of the top of the stalk. They range in color from world today. Because it was thought to NICOTINE = DRUG deep pink to nearly white. have medicinal qualities, it was soon COTININE = METABOLITE transported to Europe. By the 16th century The most common uses of tobacco are for Spaniards had established tobacco Importance of conversion: cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, and plantations in the West Indies. The chewing tobacco and snuff. The leaves Virginia colonists had begun to Nicotine is active for 20 -40 contain nicotine, which in its pure form is a successfully grow tobacco in 1612. minutes. Cotinine lasts about 18 poison. In small quantities (as in tobacco Production gradually spread to the rest of hours, which explains why a used for smoking or chewing) it increases the world. Today tobacco is grown in more nicotine addict can sleep all the blood pressure and may give an than 120 countries. The largest growers are night and not need a cigarette. appearance of calming a person’s nerves China (with nearly one-fourth of the (narcotic effect). The plant also is used to world’s production), the United States, SUDDEN INFANT obtain nicotine sulfate for use in India, Brazil, Turkey, and several insecticides and nicotine tartrate, which is European countries. DEATH SYNDROME used in some medicines. (SIDS) Tobacco is a name used for several SMOKING different plants. It is closely related to the Research has linked a high People who smoke may find the habit tomato and potato as well as to the deadly incident risk level of SIDS to invigorating at some times and relaxing at nightshade, from which the drug cigarette smoke. The statistics others. These apparently opposite effects “belladonna” is derived. All are members are staggering when a mother are produced by nicotine. Nicotine is a of the Nicotine family of plants, named for smokes. More recent data poisonous alkaloid found in tobacco a Frenchman, Jean Nicot, who first grew supports that even second smoke, and is the substance to which many tobacco in France. Some of these plants hand smoke increases the risk smokers are addicted. (Other well-known have sweet-smelling blossoms, and grow of SIDS. alkaloids are cocaine, morphine and as high as thirty feet. strychnine.) It acts as a stimulant when inhaled in short puffs, but may act as a Tobacco seeds are black and extremely tranquilizer when inhaled in deep drags. tiny. One teaspoon of seeds can grow into Because it also suppresses the appetite, enough seedlings for 6 acres. More than many people use smoking as an aid in 350,000 seeds have been counted in an weight control. The two most dangerous ounce. One mature plant has a potential components of tobacco smoke are carbon yield of a million seeds. monoxide (a gas) and particulate substances (including nicotine), which are From seedling to full plant requires collectively known as tar. specialized handling. (continued column 3, this page) (Continued on page 2, column 1) History - ( Continued from page 1) SNUFF - (continued from column 1, this page) HIGH RISK In the blood, carbon monoxide interferes DISEASES ASSOCIATED Tobacco used for snuff is ground with the supply of oxygen to all tissues WITH TOBACCO almost into a powder. It may be and organs, including the brain and ingested by holding a small pinch heart. Particulates accumulate in the • Heart disease between the thumb and forefinger, mucous linings of the airways and lungs (170,000 die each year) holding it to the nose and sniffing it and impair their functioning. up. This allows a slow release of the • Lung cancer contents of the tobacco product to be When people give up smoking, the risk absorbed through the mucous of developing tobacco-related diseases • Larynx cancer membranes of the nose and into the declines. The speed and degree of this blood stream. decline depends on how long and • Esophageal cancer heavily the person smoked. Another method of use is to place the • Bladder cancer powder or finely cut tobacco between the gum and the lip. Again the user • Pancreatic cancer sucks on the tobacco and spits out the brown juice. This is called dipping CHEWING • Kidney Cancer snuff. Chewing tobacco is usually determined • Cancer deaths Several studies have found that by the manufacturing which may involve (30% of 130,000 per year) smokeless tobacco use is a risk factor the application of heat pressure as well for cigarette smoking, and vice versa. as the use of flavorings. It may be • Chronic obstructive lung The exchangeability of tobacco use flavored with molasses. It is sometimes emphysema supports the idea that nicotine packed in shredded form in bags, and chronic bronchitis addiction can be maintained by sometimes compressed into little cakes tobacco from any source. called “slugs.” • Pregnancy spontaneous abortions This slug is then placed between the pre-term birth lower gum and the cheek. The person low birth weights sucks on the tobacco and spits out the fetal deaths resulting brown juice. infant deaths During the recent past, events have focused a spotlight on the nicotine in cigarettes. But this potentially addictive FALLACY drug naturally laces smokeless tobaccos Tobacco is the principal crop that man as well. Moreover, unlike cigarettes, grows to furnish not a necessity, but to snuff and chewing tobacco labels do not provide a habit. Scientists have long disclose the amount of nicotine these argued, about the harmful effects of products contain. Studies have shown tobacco, but people (including the same Many people who chew tobacco that the blood of adult smokeless- scientists) have gone right on using it. graduate to cigarettes. This is because tobacco users has nicotine levels “don’t do as I do, but do as I say” has people who are addicted to nicotine in comparable to those found in smokers. been a problem in convincing young chewing tobacco can also get a hit of people not to experiment with this drug. nicotine by smoking. The new According to a 1991 study, high school cigarette smoker is then also at risk boys who chewed tobacco often engaged for lung disease caused by smoke. in other types of risky behavior. As a central nervous system stimulant, it was “SNUFF OUT SNUFF” reported that they more frequently got into fist fights and carried a weapon A well publicized story of the effects of The best-known adolescent victim of during one or more of the preceding 30 smokeless tobacco was that of the all-star smokeless tobacco was Sean Marsee, a days, used anabolic steroids without a outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, star high school athlete from Oklahoma doctor’s prescription, or had made one or Brett Butler. After several years of who regularly dipped snuff. Marsee more suicide attempts in the preceding chewing tobacco, one day he found it hard developed oral cancer as a result, and 12 months. to swallow. The original diagnosis was died in 1984 at the age of 19. The tonsillitis, but further tests revealed throat outcry over his death sparked a (continued column 3, this page) nationwide campaign to snuff out snuff. cancer. This disease was directly linked to his chewing of tobacco. CHEWING TOBACCO WARNING SIGNS OF CANCER HEALTH IT IS ADDICTIVE FROM CHEWING TOBACCO HAZARDS Most people don't know that you can If you dip snuff or chew tobacco, check The suspicion that smoking can be a get addicted to smokeless tobacco just your mouth often for these warning signs. health hazard dates back at least to 1604, like cocaine or other drugs. That is If you have any of these, see your doctor or when King James I of England issued a because tobacco has nicotine in it. dentist right away. Even if you don't have condemnation of tobacco. However, it Nicotine is a drug. It’s hard to stop any of these signs, have a doctor or dentist wasn’t until after World War II that the chewing tobacco once you are hooked check your mouth every three months: modern concern over health of smokers on nicotine. emerged. By then medical evidence ♦ A red or white patch that doesn’t go began to accumulate that eventually Nicotine gets into the body through the away.