The Basics
What does the term smoking cessation mean?
The process of permanently stopping tobacco use.
What percentage of adult smokers started before age 18?
90%
Which organ system does smoking directly damage by reducing oxygen?
The lungs
Myth or Fact: Nicotine causes cancer.
Myth – it’s addictive but not the main cause of cancer.
How many Mainers die every day from smoking-related illnesses?
7 people
How many people die each year in the U.S. from smoking-related causes?
About 490,000 people.
How does nicotine affect the teenage brain's ability to focus?
It reduces attention and concentration.
What type of cancer is most closely associated with smoking?
Lung cancer
Nicotine exposure during adolescence can permanently alter the brain’s mesolimbic dopamine system, increasing vulnerability to addiction—not just to nicotine, but to other substances as well.
Fact – Nicotine disrupts normal development in brain areas like the mesolimbic system, which controls reward and addiction. This makes teens more likely to develop lifelong addiction issues, even beyond tobacco.
What happens to your oxygen levels 8 hours after quitting?
They return to normal.
What addictive substance in tobacco makes quitting so difficult?
Nicotine
What are two mental health issues teen smokers are more likely to develop?
Anxiety and depression
How does smoking increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes?
It damages blood vessels, increases clotting, and raises blood pressure.
Myth or Fact: You can get addicted after just a few cigarettes.
Fact
How many cancer-causing chemicals are in cigarette smoke?
At least 70
Name one emotional or social trigger that can make quitting hard.
Stress or being around other smokers
Why do teens become addicted to nicotine faster than adults?
Their brains are still developing and more sensitive to nicotine.
True or False: Secondhand smoke is harmless to non-smokers.
False
Myth or Fact: Secondhand smoke isn’t dangerous.
Myth
True or False: Vaping is completely safe and not addictive.
False
True or False: There are only long-term health benefits to quitting smoking.
False there are both immediate and long-term benefits.
Name two physical effects of smoking on teen hygiene.
Yellow teeth, bad breath, dirty nails, or body odor (any two)
How does smoking affect the reproductive system in males and females?
Infertility, hormone disruption, erectile dysfunction, pregnancy risks, early menopause
Myth or Fact: Smoking helps relieve stress long term.
Myth – it actually increases anxiety and stress over time.
After how long does your heart disease risk drop by 50% after quitting?
After 1 year