Say “No” to
Smoking
Melissa Moore -
Newfoundland and Labrador Alliance for the Control
of Tobacco
(ACT)
Your Lungs!
We have two
lungs that
look like
upside-down
trees
Inside Your Lungs!
Inside Your Lungs!
Tiny hairs
called
Cilia keep
your
lungs
clean!!
Why are lungs
important?
• Delivers oxygen to
our body.
• Cells in our body
need oxygen to
make energy so we
can play and
exercise.
Smoking causes…
• Many different types of cancer, especially
lung cancer
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Lung disease
• Many other disease of almost every part of
your body
But Everyone Smokes….Don’t
They??
The Truth is:
• Less than 1 in 5 Canadians
over the age of 15 smoke
• One half of these smokers
want to quit at any given
time
• Most Canadians do not
smoke, either at home or at
work
What Does Addictive Mean?
A difference in brain chemistry
• Tobacco contains nicotine
• Nicotine is more addictive than cocaine or
heroin
• Smokers brains are “tricked” into “liking”
smoking, and “needing” smoking to feel
normal
What’s in Tobacco Smoke?
• Tobacco smoke contains thousands of
chemicals
• 50 of these chemicals cause cancer
• Some of these chemicals are unsafe at
ANY level
• Includes formaldehyde, ammonia, arsenic,
cadmium, carbon monoxide, hydrogen
cyanide
ARSENIC
ACETONE
AMMONIA
CARBON MONOXIDE
METHANOL
(ROCKET
FUEL)
Do you REALLY Understand…
What Can Happen If You
Smoke?
• Affects EVERY part of your
body
–
–
–
–
–
–
Hair
Brain
Eyes
Mouth – breath and teeth
Yellow skin and wrinkles
Difficulty in breathing (Asthma,
etc).
– Serious Diseases
Second-Hand
Smoke
What is Second-Hand Smoke?
• The smoke released at the
lit end of the cigarette and
the smoke that the
smoker exhales
• Many of the chemicals are
dangerous and cause
allergic reactions
Second Hand Smoke
If you can
smell it,
you are
breathing it!
Why do people start to smoke?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Curious – experimenting
Peer Pressure
Parents or friends smoke
Looks cool
Want to fit in
What are other reasons?
Saying “NO” to Smoking
– 90% of youth who
smoke 2 cigarettes or
more, go on to be
smokers for most of
their life.
– Smoking is not popular –
most people don’t
smoke
Saying “NO” to Smoking
Give a reason or excuse “I have allergies.” “I can’t
because I play sports.”
“No thanks”
Broken record “No.” “No.” “No.” “I said
No.”
Walk away
Avoid the situation “I have other plans right
now.”
Saying “NO” to Smoking
Cold shoulder
Ignore them. Go & talk with
other friends.
Reverse the pressure
“I don’t want to & I can’t believe
you do.”
Strength in numbers
“Everyone knows says it’s bad
for you.”
Be Funny
“You’ve got to be joking.” “
Smoking Sucks!”
Why do people continue
to smoke?





Addiction – Tough to quit!
Something to do with your
hands
Stimulation – nicotine
stimulates
Don’t know how to quit
Other reasons?
Reasons to never
start smoking or to
quit smoking

Health
 Stinks, bad breath, yellow
skin
 Family/Friends
 Too much money!
 Peer pressure (fewer
smokers)
 Fewer places to smoke
 Don’t like it anymore –
sick of it
 Others…
Choosing to
not smoke
means that …
I will be
able to
breath
better!
My Heart
Will
Be
Stronger!
I will be able to
play and
exercise longer
and more
often!
My clothes
and breath
will smell
better!
I will be
able to
smell and
taste
better!
I will live
a longer
and
healthier
life!
You Can Help!
Speak Up! – Say NO!
Never start to smoke -
promise to stay smoke free
Ask others to not smoke
around you
Help friends to choose not to
smoke
Help parents and friends to
quit
Questions/Comments?