The Effects of Smoking

The ingredient in tobacco that causes addiction is nicotine, a psychoactive drug with both stimulant and calming effects. ôNicotine impacts on the central nervous system, causing a release of epinephrine, a hormone that causes a ærushÆ of energy. After this stimulus subsides, a sedative effect takes over. This progresses to withdrawal symptoms that compel the smoker to reach for another cigaretteö (Smoking Addiction). According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS, 1991), nicotine is one of the most toxic and addictive drugs known. Nicotine is also psychologically addictive, reducing stress and inducing alertness and memory. ôFor some users, the ritual act of smoking itselfàis part of the pleasureö (Smoking Addiction). Because of the emotional factors, ex-smokers may continue to have cravings for nicotine, a reason why many individuals who ôkick the hab

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. ôThe profound effects of smoking on fetal development are irreversible and may cause impairment in the health and well-being of the offspring in later life. In particular, the reduced brain size that we saw in smokersÆ babies could lead to impaired cognitive ability of the childö (Smoking during pregnancy, 2003). A study by Drews, Murphy, Yeargin, Allsopp and Decoufle (1996) looked at mental retardation in children of mothers who smoked during pregnancy and concluded that smoking during pregnancy increases by 50 percent the likelihood that a child will have mental retardation. Maternal smoking during pregnancy is also a recognized risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Basically, smoking during pregnancy appears to affect the development of the lungs of the fetus to such a degree that it may cause SIDS. It is not only smoking during pregnancy that harms children, but also parents smoking during the first few years of a childÆs life. In these early years, ôchildren are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of passive smokingö, or inhaling second hand smoke. These effects include worsening of asthma and increased frequency of colds and ear infections (Smoking: How to stop). Infants and young children are
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