Although many people smoke because they believe cigarettes calm their nerves, smoking releases epinephrine, a hormone which creates physiological stress in the smoker, rather than relaxation.
Once inhaled, the nicotine produces a warm feeling of well being: the nicotine "rush". This is almost immediate, but is very short lived. Most users develop tolerance for nicotine and need greater amounts to produce the desired effect. Smokers become physically and psychologically dependent.
Risks associated with smoking cigarettes include diminished or extinguished sense of smell and taste, frequent colds, smoker's cough, gastric ulcers, chronic bronchitis, increase in heart rate and blood pressure, premature and more abundant face wrinkles, emphysema, heart disease, stroke, cancer of the mouth, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, lungs, pancreas, cervix, uterus, and bladder.
Smoking is particularly dangerous for teens because their bodies are still developing and changing and the 4,000 chemicals (including 200 known poisons) in cigarette smoke can adversely affect this process.
Cigarettes are highly addictive As most smokers will testify, the habit of smoking creeps up on you without you realising it and giving up smoking takes considerable will power. Withdrawal symptom include: changes in body temperature, heart rate, digestion, muscle tone, and appetite. Psychological symptoms include: irritability, anxiety, sleep disturbances, nervousness, headaches, fatigue, nausea, and cravings for tobacco that can last days, weeks, months, years, or an entire lifetime.
Smokers should give consideration to those around them, especially on the dance floor.
Disclaimer This Guide is provided for informational purposes ONLY. RaveSafe, it's volunteers and its sponsors do not condone or advocate the use of illegal substances. RaveSafe accepts NO responsibility for the way the information in this used, nor for any harm that might occur from the use of the information contained in this document. Although a concerted effort has been made to ensure the validity of the information contained in this document, no guarantees or assurances of accuracy are provided by anyone. Read and act at your own risk.