Tobacco
Nicknames:
fags, cigs, ciggies, cancer sticks, coffin nails, smokes, rollies, etc.
What it is:
The dried and shredded leaf of the tobacco plant.
How it is used:
Usually sold in form of cigarettes or cigars, but also sold loose for smoking in a pipe of in self-rolled cigarettes. Tobacco contains a drug called nicotine which is very addictive.
The highs:
Nicotine is a powerful, fast-acting, highly addictive stimulant drug which is used to relieve stress and anxiety. It speeds up the heart rate and increases blood pressure.
The lows:
Very addictive. First time users may feel sick and dizzy. Regular long-term smoking greatly increases the risk of a number of serious diseases including lung cancer, other cancers, blood clots, heart disease, bronchitis, emphysema, bad circulation and ulcers. People who become dependent on tobacco often feel restless, irritable and anxious if they try to stop smoking. Breathing in other people's tobacco smoke ("passive smoking") is also harmful.
The law:
It is illegal to sell tobacco products to children under the age of 16.
For more information, visit the smoking section.
Contacts
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