2nd and 3rd hand smoke
Quitting and Coping
Hodge Podge
How to talk to your children
Vaping/E-Cigs
100
How can second-hand smoke be reduced in the home and car?
Answer: Lots of ways.
• Set up an area outside for smokers to use.
• Do not smoke in the car (especially with children present.)
• Remove all ashtrays from your home.
100
Smoking relaxes me. Will it be too stressful to quit?
Answer: No.
• Smoking may make you feel calmer but it has the opposite effect on your body.
• After you quit smoking your heart rate lowers, you sleep better and your body’s ability to use oxygen increases.
• These decrease stress!
100
Why is nicotine so addictive?
Answer: Nicotine causes a chemical dependence. Without it smokers experience unpleasant symptoms.
• Nicotine releases a chemical in the brain (dopamine) that creates a feeling of relaxation.
• Between cigarettes, the level of dopamine drops causing withdrawal symptoms like irritability, anxiety, or tension.
• The longer you smoke the more nicotine your body needs to cause dopamine release. This is often why the amount you smoke increases over time.
100
I smoke, so my child won't believe me if I tell him smoking is harmful. What can I say?
Answer: Talk about your own struggles with tobacco use.
• Tell your child about how you got hooked on cigarettes and how hard it is to quit. Talk about how expensive it is and how it has affected your health.
• Research shows that when parents who smoke talk to their children, their children are less likely to smoke!
• Being honest builds trust and a good relationship.
100
Myth or Fact: Vaping is addictive.
FACT!!! Nicotine is the addictive chemical found in e-cigarettes. The pleasure felt when vaping or smoking nicotine contrasted with the feeling of withdrawal keeps users dependent on the drug.
200
Does smoking in another room reduce second-hand smoke?
Answer: No. Smoke travels through vents and under doors.
200
How much money can I save if I quit smoking?
Answer: Between 1 to 3 million dollars in a lifetime!
• 1 pack a day @ $15 each = $5,400 savings a year on cigarettes.
• However, with inflation the savings is over 1 million dollars in a lifetime!
• But if that money is invested, the saving becomes over 3 million dollars!
200
Is smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco, snuff, etc.) as dangerous as cigarettes?
Answer: Yes.
• Spit tobacco has at least 28 cancer causing chemicals.
• It can cause: cancer of the mouth, throat, lip, tongue and cheek.
severe tooth and gum disease.
ulcers and upset stomach.
200
My child says that smoking can't hurt her and she can quit whenever she wants. What can I say to her?
Answer: Discuss the facts of smoking. Challenge her to quit.
• Addiction to nicotine happens faster in youth than in adults.
• Smoking has the same chemicals as rat poison, moth balls and a preservative for dead bodies.
• It stains teeth, turns fingers yellow and causes early wrinkles.
• It makes breath and clothes smell.
• Money saved from smoking can be spent on clothes or music!
200
What is a risk of vaping that does not happen through inhalation?
Answer: Randomly, E-cig batteries have been found to explode due to the shape of the device, extreme conditions, damage, or charging through other devices like laptops.
300
What is 3rd hand smoke?
• Poisonous chemicals from smoke that cling to carpet, curtains, furniture, clothing and other materials. They remain in a room long after someone has smoked there.
300
How long to withdrawal symptoms last and what can help?
Answer: • The withdrawal symptoms are strongest in the first few days but usually go away by the 4th week.
• For those who suffer from intense withdrawal symptoms, there are many treatments available to help: nicotine replacers: patch, gum, inhaler and lozenge.
prescription medications: to reduce withdrawal symptoms or pleasure effects of cigarettes.
alternative treatments: laser therapy, acupuncture and hypnosis.
300
Is there a difference between traditional tobacco and commercial tobacco?
Answer: Yes.
• Traditional or Sacred Tobacco is one of the four sacred medicines given to aboriginal people by their Creator.
• Indigenous people use Sacred Tobacco to communicate to the Spirit World, to give thanks in advance to a request, or prior to ceremonies or hunting.
• Commercial tobacco is bought in stores. It is completely different from Sacred Tobacco with more than 4,000 chemicals added.
Note: The four sacred medicines are: Sacred Tobacco, Cedar, Sage and Sweetgrass
300
I am sure my child will never smoke since I don't smoke...so why should I talk about smoking?
Answer: Because peer pressure is one of the biggest influences on children to smoke
• Even if you don’t smoke that is not a guarantee your child will not smoke.
• 1 of 3 teens in grades 7 to 9 say they have tried tobacco!
• Talk to your child and find out their views on smoking.
• Discuss your own challenges with peer pressure and addiction
300
1 Cartridge of vaping fluid is equal to how many packs of cigarettes?
Answer: Typically about 1-2 packs dependent on the level of nicotine, the brand, and the user. It can range to about 4 packs.
400
Why is third-hand smoke more harmful to babies?
Answer: Babies take in 20 times more third-hand smoke than adults. This is because babies:
• breathe faster than adults.
• swallow dust when they crawl on floors or put their hands in their mouths.
400
How can I quit and still have time for myself or be around my friends who smoke?
• Replace the time spent smoking with other things you like: take a bath, read a book, do an exercise video. Instead of going outside for a smoke go for a walk.
• Quitting smoking does not mean you quit your friends. In the beginning you may want to meet your friends in a non-smoking place like a coffee shop. When you are ready try meeting in a more familiar place without smoking.
400
I know a woman who quit smoking and gained 15 pounds! Can weight gain be prevented?
Answer: Yes.
• 1 in 5 people who quit smoking don’t gain any weight.
• Be physically active before and after you quit.
• Being more active after quitting will help prevent weight gain. It is also a good distraction to help stay smoke free.
• If you find yourself having snacks as a substitute for a cigarette, choose vegetables!
400
Your child has started vaping and feels that it's safer than smoking cigarettes. What are three things you can tell your child about vaping?
E-juice and vape juice is not regulated and contains unknown harmful chemicals
The chemical composition of e-juice changes when heated releasing even more toxic chemicals
Nicotine is an addictive chemical, which damages the brains of young people
400
What are some side effects of E-Cigarettes/Vaping?
Answer: Side effects include dry mouth, dizziness, cough, itchiness, dry eyes, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, restlessness, cnaker sores, headaches. Long term side effects are hypertension, asthma, diabetes, and COPD.
500
If both parents smoke 1/2 a pack a day at home, how many cigarettes will a child be exposed to in one year from second-hand smoke?
Answer: Over 7,000 cigarettes each year!
500
Can I get addicted to nicotine gum or patches?
Answer: Very rare.
• Nicotine absorbed through the skin or stomach is not as addictive as inhaled nicotine. It is much easier to stop these treatments over time.
• Nicotine alone is not as dangerous as all the other toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke.
500
What are some ways to stay smoke free and manage stress?
Answer: Self-care and support.
• Find things to relax you (soft music, hot bath, brisk walk, reading or try relaxation exercises like deep breathing or tension releasing).
• Call the Smokers Help Line. (1-800-Quit-Now)
• Talk to someone else who has quit to help you through the hard times.
500
What are some signs of withdrawal from nicotine that you can warn your child about?
Answer: Anxiety, fatigue, sweating, vomiting, depression, irritability, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating
500
Myth or fact: Vapes contain less nicotine than combustible cigarettes?
MYTH!!! Many e-cigarette users get even more nicotine than they would from a combustible tobacco product: Users can buy extra-strength cartridges, which have a higher concentration of nicotine, or increase the e-cigarette’s voltage to get a greater hit of the substance.