Substance Abuse

Causes & Prevention

Second Hand Smoke

Definition of Secondhand Smoke

Secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke, is a complex mixture of gases and particles that includes smoke from the burning cigarette, cigar, or pipe tip (sidestream smoke) and exhaled mainstream smoke.1

Secondhand smoke contains at least 250 chemicals known to be toxic, including more than 50 that can cause cancer.1
Health Effects of Secondhand Smoke Exposure

Smoking: Much Has Been Done, Much Remains To Be Done

Cigarette smoking has been identified as the most important source of preventable morbidity and premature mortality worldwide. Smoking-related diseases claim an estimated 438,000 American lives each year, including those affected indirectly, such as babies born prematurely due to prenatal maternal smoking and victims of "secondhand" exposure to tobacco's carcinogens. Smoking costs the United States over $167 billion each year in health-care costs including $92 billion in mortality-related productivity loses and $75.5 billion in excess medical expenditures.

Alcohol Use and the Elderly

For most adults, moderate alcohol use--up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women and older people--causes few if any problems. (One drink equals one 12-ounce bottle of beer or wine cooler, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.) These amounts are known as one standard unit.

Certain people should not drink at all, however:

• Women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant

Smokers Have Stiff Arteries

Stiffness and thickness in one's arteries are early signs of artheroscherosis or hardening of the arteries. Both of these conditions are caused by aging, hypertension, and smoking. So what you say? Why do my arteries need to be flexible? Several reasons:

Want to Look Young? Don't Smoke!

A study looked at cigarette smoking and the skin under one's inner upper arm. Location was chosen, as this area is protected from the effects of sun.

Sun damaged skin has:

  • roughness,
  • coarse wrinkles, and
  • pigment irregularities.

Long Term Effects of Marijuana

There is a lot of information in the news concerning marijuana being good for some medical conditions, the benefits for all through taxing legal marijuana, and the decrease in violent crimes with marijuana users.

What Does It Mean When Medical Experts Say "Race" Is A Risk Factor For Certain Diseases?

Editor's Note:

"Race" is sometimes mentioned as a risk factor in the development of certain cancers and a number of other diseases. When you read this in a discussion about an illness, note that the explanation seldom refers to anything biological. Instead, it usually refers to behavior, such as eating habits. The kinds of behavior usually mentioned as risk factors are culturally determined. They are not genetic or biological.

Risk Factors Increase The Likelihood Of Substance Abuse

The Use and abuse of addictive substances such as cigarettes, alcohol, and illegal drugs may begin in childhood or the teen years. Certain risk factors may increase someone's likelihood to abuse substances.