PARENTS BE
AWARE
Tobacco: The Smoking Gun
October 23,
2007 - The report released by Columbia University's National
Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) led by former
U.S. Health, Education and Welfare Commissioner Joseph A.
Califano, Jr.
Califano says
the report was issued to make parents, teachers, and physicians
aware that the dangers of teen smoking are immediate as well as
long-term. "The message is clear," Califano says. "If
your kid is smoking, you better be alert to the much greater
likelihood that he or she also may be abusing alcohol or illegal
drugs." "Smoking is clearly linked to
substance abuse and depression, and this report shows that the
statistical relationship is very powerful,"
he says.
·
Teenage smokers between the ages of 12 and 17 are five times more
likely to drink alcohol and nine times more likely to meet the
medical criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence as teens who
don't smoke.
·
Teens who smoke are 13 times more likely to use marijuana than
nonsmoking teens.
·
Teens who smoke are more than twice as likely to have suffered
from symptoms of depression over the course of a year.
·
Children who start smoking before age 13 are three times as likely to
binge drink, 15 times as likely to use marijuana, and seven
times more likely to use other illegal drugs such as heroin or
cocaine.
·
The earlier a child begins smoking, the greater the risk,
compared to children who never smoked.
·
Brain imaging studies indicate that nicotine has a more profound
effect on young brains than on the brains of adults, increasing
their vulnerability to cigarettes and possibly other addictive
substances.
·
Studies suggest that teens may become nicotine dependent more
quickly than adults.
·
The CASA report calls for greater restrictions on the advertising and
marketing of all types of tobacco products.
·
Califano tells WebMD that tobacco companies have found ways
around existing restrictions and are still actively marketing
their products to children.
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