Prevention Links, Clark, New Jersey

35 Walnut Avenue • Suite 17 • Clark, NJ 07066

Phone: 732.381.4100
TTY: 732.381.4192
Fax: 732.381.0140

Elementary Puppet Programs Middle & High School Programs

Parenting Programs

Community Programs

Life Skills All-Stars ON T.R.A.C.K. REBEL

S.T.A.R. Program Strenghtening Families Possibility Parenting Project Success ATOD Workshops

Union County Coalition Georgene Berg Resource Center ATOD & Violence Prevention Training Childhood Drinking Coalition

Alcohol Cigarette Smoking Cocaine & Crack Hallucinogens Inhalants Marijuana Methamphetamine Party Drugs Do I Have a Problem? A Friend/Family Problem? How Can I Get Help?

Calendar of Events Red Ribbon Day Savor the Flavor

Community
Parnters

Cigarette Smoking

Although many people smoke because they believe cigarettes calm their nerves, smoking releases epinephrine, a hormone which creates physical stress in the smoker, rather than relaxation. The use of tobacco is addictive. Most users develop tolerance for nicotine and need greater amounts to produce a desired effect. Smokers become physiclly and psychologically dependent and will suffer withdrawal symptoms including: changes in body temperature, heart rate, digestion, muscle tone, and appetite. Psychological symptoms include: irritability, anxiety, sleep disturbances, nervousness, headaches, fatigue, nausea, and cravings for tobacco that can last days, weeks, months, years or an entire lifetime.

Risks associated with smoking cigarettes:
diminished or extinguished sense of smell and taste frequent colds smoker's cough gastric ulcers chronic bronchitis increase in heart rate and blood pressure premature and more abundant face wrinkles emphysema heart disease stroke cancer of the mouth, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, lungs, pancreas, cervix, uterus, and bladder

Cigarette smoking is perhaps the most devastating preventable cause of disease and premature death.
Smoking is particularly dangerous for teens because their bodies are still developing and changing and the 4,000 chemicals (including 200 known poisons) in cigarette smoke can adversely affect this process.

Cigarettes are highly addictive. One-third of young people who are just "experimenting" end up being addicted by the time they are 20.