Tobacco

Smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer. Smoking is also a leading cause of cancer of the mouth, throat, bladder, pancreas, and kidney. Smokeless tobacco can cause mouth cancer, tooth loss, and other health problems.

Once almost nonexistent in the United States, smoking tobacco through water pipes called "hookahs" is becoming popular, especially among college students. This new trend concerns health experts because of a misconception that the smoke is filtered through the water pipe, and therefore makes it safer.

Street names/slang terms:
Cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chew, dip, smoke, butt, snuff, bone, coffin nail, cancer stick

Drug Type:
Tobacco is an agricultural crop.

What does it look like?
Brown cut up leaves.

How is it used?
Tobacco is usually smoked. Sometimes tobacco leaves are "dipped" or "chewed" so the nicotine is absorbed via the gums.

Short-term Effects:
• increase in blood pressure, heart rate
• increase of blood flow from the heart
• narrowed arteries

Long-term Effects:
• chronic lung disease
• coronary heart disease
• stroke
• cancer of the lungs, larynx, esophagus, mouth (smokeless tobacco, cigars)
• cancer of the bladder, cervix, pancreas, kidneys
• adverse birth outcomes in pregnant women

Source: Partnership for a Drug-Free America, AHA, CDC