Nicotine & Tobacco

The most addictive substance know, nicotine is a central nervous system stimulant that tricks the body into thinking it is exercising. Initially, nicotine temporarily increases thinking, memory, and attention, but these benefits deteriorate over time, causing cognitive decline in the long term. Nicotine negatively alters and arrests adolescent brain development in unique ways and primes the brain, enhancing the effects of other drugs.

Smokefree Teen is part of the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) initiative to reduce the number of youth who use tobacco by preventing early and occasional tobacco users from becoming regular users and promoting tobacco cessation among established users.

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Take smokefree.gov's quiz to understand how much you depend on nicotine and how to reduce your cravings.

Nicotine is the most addictive drug known to man. Take a quiz to test your knowledge of nicotine.

Resources

Learn the real facts about cigarettes and other tobacco products from the Department of Health Services.

Learn all abouts kids and smoking at The American Lung Association, a leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease.

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If you need help and are under the age of 18, reach out to a trusted adult, such as a counselor, a parent, a teacher, or a coach. Finding assistance and the best-fit resources in your community is priority. To book Dr. Crystal Collier to present at your school, parent organization, or in your community, please contact us!

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