Exploring the Prevention of Substance Use and Abuse (Gateway

Drugs: Cigarette and Alcohol)

Do you know someone who smokes cigarette? Or someone who drinks alcohol? Do they look
healthy? If they still look healthy now, what do you think might happen if they continue
smoking cigarette and/ or drinking alcohol? Are there benefits of smoking cigarette or drinking
alcohol?

What do you think are the possible effects of

cigarette and alcohol to the body? (Give me at least 10 each)

Cigarette

1. Lung damage

Smoking cigarettes affects lung health because a person breathes in not only nicotine
but also a variety of additional chemicals.

Cigarettes are responsible for a substantial increase in the risk of developing lung

cancer. This risk is 25 times greater for men and 25.7 times greater for women.

The CDC report that roughly 9 out of 10 lung cancer deaths is linked to smoking.
Smoking cigarettes also presents a greater risk of developing and dying from chronic
obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). In fact, the American Lung Association report
that smoking causes 80 percent of COPD deaths.

Cigarettes are also linked to developing emphysema and chronic bronchitis. They can

also trigger or exacerbate an asthma attack.

2. Heart disease

Smoking cigarettes can damage the heart, blood vessels, and blood cells.

The chemicals and tar in cigarettes can increase a person’s risk of atherosclerosis,
which is the buildup of plaque in the blood vessels. This buildup limits blood flow and
can lead to dangerous blockages.

Smoking also increases the risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD), which occurs when
the arteries to the arms and legs start to narrow, restricting blood flow.

Research shows a direct link between smoking and developing PAD. Even those who
used to smoke face a higher risk than people who never smoked.

Having PAD increases the risk of experiencing:

 blood clots
 angina, or chest pain
 a stroke
 a heart attack

3. Fertility problems

Smoking cigarettes can damage a female’s reproductive system and make it more
difficult to get pregnant. This may be because tobacco and the other chemicals in
cigarettes affect hormone levels.
In males, the more cigarettes a person smokes and the longer they smoke for,
the higher the risk of erectile dysfunction. Smoking can also affect the quality of the
sperm and therefore reduce fertility.

4. Risk of pregnancy complications

xSmoking can increase the risk of ectopic pregancy and reduce the baby’s birth weight.

According to the CDC, smoking can affect pregnancy and the developing fetus in
several ways, including:

 increasing the risk of ectopic pregnancy

 reducing the baby’s birth weight
 increasing the risk of preterm delivery
 damaging the fetus’s lungs, brain, and central nervous system
 increasing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome
 contributing to congenital abnormalities, such as cleft lip or cleft palate

5. Risk of type 2 diabetes

The CDC report that people who smoke regularly have a 30–40 percent higher risk of
developing type 2 diabetes than those who do not.

Smoking can also make it more difficult for people with diabetes to manage their
condition

6. Weakened immune system.

Smoking cigarettes can weaken a person’s immune system, making them more
susceptible to illness.
It can also cause additional inflammation in the body.

7. Vision problems

Smoking cigarettes can cause eye problems, including a greater risk of cataracts and
age-related macular degeneration.

Other vision problems related to smoking include:

 dry eyes
 glaucoma
 diabetic retinopathy

8. Poor oral hygiene

People who smoke have double the risk of gum disease. This risk increases with the
number of cigarettes a person smokes.

Symptoms of gum disease include:

 swollen and tender gums

 bleeding when brushing
 loose teeth
 sensitive teeth

Smoking tobacco can limit a person’s ability to taste and smell things properly. It can
also stain the teeth yellow or brown.

9. Unhealthy skin and hair

Smoking tobacco can affect a person’s skin and hair. A person who smokes may

experience prematurely aged, wrinkled skin. They also have a higher risk of skin

cancer, “especially on the lips.”

Smoking can cause the hair and skin to smell of tobacco. It can also contribute to hair
loss and balding.

10. Risk of other cancers

In addition to the well-documented link with lung cancer, smoking cigarettes can also
contribute to other forms of cancer.

The American Cancer Society report that cigarette smoking causes 20–30

percent of pancreatic cancers.

People who smoke are also three times as likely to develop bladder cancer than
people who do not.

Smoking cigarettes can also double a person’s risk of stomach cancer. Tobacco is

especially linked to stomach cancers that occur near the esophagus.

Cigarettes can also increase the risk of:

 mouth cancer
  laryngeal cancer
 throat cancer
 esophageal cancer
 kidney cancer
 cervical cancer
 liver cancer
 colon cancer
 acute myeloid leukemia
Alcohol

1. Brain
Alcohol is known as a depressant, meaning it slows down the brain’s communication
pathways. This disruption can change mood and behavior, making it harder to think
clearly and move with coordination. Alcohol abuse can also lead to learning and
memory problems, as well as depression and anxiety.

2. Heart
Some research shows that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol may prevent
coronary heart disease in healthy adults. However, heavy drinking, especially binge
drinking, is a known cause of cardiomyopathy (stretching and drooping of heart
muscles), arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), stroke and high blood pressure.   

3. Liver
The liver metabolizes, or breaks down, alcohol and other harmful substances. Those
who drink heavily for a long time can develop diseases, such as liver inflammation or
severe liver scarring. In fact, more than 2 million Americans suffer from alcohol-related
liver disease.

4. Pancreas
Pancreatitis, caused when the blood vessels in the pancreas become inflamed, can be
a side effect of drinking regularly. Pancreatitis may also trigger the onset of Type 2
diabetes in those that consume high levels of alcohol.

5. Cancer
Habitual alcohol consumption is linked to increased risk for developing certain cancers,
including cancers of the mouth, esophagus, throat, liver and breast. Though the exact
reason is unknown, for each of these cancers the risk increases with the amount of
alcohol consumed.

6.  Immune System
Chronic alcohol use reduces the ability of white blood cells to effectively fight off
harmful bacteria, disrupts production of cytokines and suppresses the development of
T-Cells – all of which make the body more susceptible to diseases like pneumonia and
tuberculosis.

7. Bones
Alcohol acts as a diuretic, flushing calcium from healthy bones. Heavy drinking can
accelerate the rate of bone deterioration and increase the risk for bone fracture and
osteoporosis.

8. Central Nervous System

Slurred speech, blurred vision, decreased reaction time and impaired memory are all
short-term effects of alcohol on the central nervous system. When alcohol is consumed
heavily over time, it can cause permanent cell damage in the form of neuropathy.
Neuropathy alternates feelings of weakness, burning, pain and numbness of the hands
and feet.

9. Weight
Not only does alcohol contain empty calories with no nutritional value, it can impair the
body’s ability to absorb nutrients and vitamins from food. By slowing down metabolic
function, heavy alcohol consumption can contribute to weight gain.

10. Stomach
The short-term effects of alcohol on your stomach include sickness, nausea and
diarrhea.  In the long-term, however, alcohol irritates and inflames the stomach lining,
which can lead to stomach ulcers and bleeding. Severe tearing in the stomach may
also lead to anemia.

From increased risk for chronic disease to altered mood and behavior, drinking alcohol
affects total body health and wellness. If you have concerns about you or a loved one’s
drinking behaviors, Powell Chemical Dependency Center is here to help address your
concerns with sensitivity and empathy and provide the necessary treatment and
support resources to begin the road to recovery.

 What are the impacts of cigarettes smoking on the family,

environment and community? Give at least 5 each.
Your Family
Have kids at home? Lighting up around them increases their risk of
developing ear infections, asthma, and other breathing complications—
like coughs, shortness of breath, and even bronchitis. Children who
grow up watching their parents smoke are also more likely to become
smokers as teens. Being an adult, of course, doesn’t protect anyone
from the damaging effects of cigarettes. The lungs and hearts of all
family members in your home are put at risk by secondhand smoke, no
matter how wide you keep the windows open—or how many fans you
make use of.
Your Neighbors
Secondhand smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals. Hundreds of them
are toxic and 70 have been shown to cause cancer in humans.
Breathing in secondhand smoke—whether it’s from a neighbor’s
burning cigarette or from a cigarette outside your window—has been
shown to have instant effects on the cardiovascular system of nearby
individuals. Over time, secondhand smoke takes a toll on people’s
lungs and has been found to increase the risk of stroke in those
exposed by 20-30%.
Your Coworkers
Even if you’re not puffing on cigarettes in the office (or other worksite),
your colleagues can still be impacted. Smoking can decrease your
productivity on the job, plus all those potential medical complications
linked to smoking. Heart disease, diabetes, and reduced immune
function (to name just a few) can cause you to take more time off than
a non-smoking colleague. One study estimated that smokers cost
businesses an average of $5,816 extra dollars each year.
Environment
Cigarette smoking causes environmental pollution by releasing toxic
air pollutants into the atmosphere. The cigarette butts also litter the
environment and the toxic chemicals in the remains seep into soils and
waterways therefore causing soil and water
pollution respectively. Animals and plants that come into contact or
absorb the toxic substances from the cigarette residues are affected as
well.
Family

When parents expose their children to smoke, or let others do so, they
are putting their children's health in danger and sending a message
 that smoking is OK. Secondhand smoke is the smoke a smoker
breathes out. It's also the smoke that comes from the tip of lit
cigarettes, pipes, and cigars. It contains about 4,000 different
chemicals, many of which cause cancer. Because of exposure to
secondhand smoke, about 3,400 nonsmokers die from lung cancer
every year and 22,000 to 69,000 nonsmokers die from heart disease
every year.

 What are the reasons in drinking alcohol?

Stress Relief
For both moderate drinkers and alcoholics, alcohol has wonderful
anxiolytic (“anti-anxiety”) properties, meaning it can inhibit anxiety or
the feeling of stress. It is a common way for people to unwind after a
long day’s work. Alcoholics often discover this effect early on in their
drinking career. As addiction takes hold, the afflicted person continues
to drink despite evidence that alcohol is no longer providing any
semblance of stress relief. Propelled by the delusion that they can stop
after a glass or two, they unsuccessfully chase this feeling of relief.
More often than not for the alcoholic, drinking alcohol exacerbate the
very stress they were hoping to avoid.
Peer Pressure and Camaraderie
Many people drink when others around them are drinking. In fact, most
non-alcoholics tend to drink in social situations, such as weddings or
football games, where alcohol is considered a part of the event itself.
Though the term “peer pressure” is often associated with young
people, it is not limited to those in junior high, high school, or college.
Drinking is prevalent in our culture, socially accepted, and legal. Peer
pressure to drink alcohol can exist at any stage of life.
 What are the impacts of drinking alcohol on the family,
environment, and community? Give 5 each.
 Family members of alcoholics can experience anxiety,
depression and shame related to their loved one’s addiction.
Family members may also be the victims of emotional or
physical outbursts.

 A person addicted to alcohol may try to shield their family from

the impact of alcohol abuse by distancing themselves.
Unfortunately, isolation does little to protect family members
from the financial and emotional side effects of alcoholism.
Neglect can also have a negative impact on loved ones.
 Alcoholism causes physical and emotional health problems. The
person with alcohol addiction experiences the brunt of the
 physical problems, but people who are close to them often
share the emotional side effects of the person’s addiction.
 Alcohol abuse has the potential to destroy families. Research
shows that families affected by alcoholism are more likely to
have low levels of emotional bonding, expressiveness and
independence. Couples that include at least one alcoholic have
more negative interactions than couples that aren’t affected by
alcoholism, according to research from the University at Buffalo
Research Institute on Addictions.
 Relationships are built on trust, but many alcoholics lie or
blame others for their problems. They’re often in denial about
their disease so they minimize how much they drink or the
problems that drinking causes. This deterioration of trust
damages relationships and makes family members resent one
another.
 What are the strategies can be used in prevention smoking and
alcohol drinking?
Promising family strategies for preventing alcohol, tobacco, and
other drug use include structured, home-based parent-child activities;
family skills training; behavioral parent training; and behavioral family
therapy.
 What are the healthful alternatives to cigarettes and alcohol lifestyle?
We all know that drinking alcohol and smoking are bad for our health.
And yet so many of us continue to do so. The main reason for this is
because both habits are quite addictive. To be able to fully stop one or
the other, it is often necessary to find a healthier habit to replace it
with. Not only that, though, but your replacement habit needs to be
something that can help relax you in the same way alcohol and
smoking do. Not too sure what you should be switching these bad
habits for?