Tongan Boy Genius

Statistics * More than 8 percent of high school student in the United States use some form of smokeless tobacco. Students who use smokeless tobacco products are more likely to begin smoking than students who have not previously used a tobacco product, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Tobacco use that begins at an early age is more likely to cause cancer and other tobacco-related diseases such as asthma and chronic bronchitis, according to the Surgeon General's report. Children who begin smoking in their youth are more likely to become lifetime users than their older counterparts.
Cost
* Tobacco use is an expensive habit. The average cost for a pack of cigarettes in 2010 is $6. Minimum wage in the United States in 2010 averaged $6 per hour. That means every pack of cigarettes costs approximately one hours worth of labor. Most nicotine-dependent smokers smoke at least one pack of cigarettes per day. The cost for cigarettes is also increasing as states increase tobacco taxes. Health care for smoking-related diseases generates expenses upwards of $50 billion annually.

Disease * There are many harmful effects of cigarette smoking and smokeless tobacco use. Smokeless tobacco increases blood pressure and heart rate, which leads to long-term cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack, stroke and high blood pressure. Smokeless tobacco use also puts users at higher risk for mouth, esophageal and throat cancers. Cigarette smoking leads to lung diseases such as cancer and chronic obstructive diseases. Excessive exposure to carbon monoxide in smoke can decrease respiratory drive, leading to shortness of breath and dizziness. Long-term cigarette smoking triples your risk of death due to cardiovascular diseases such as aneurysms, stroke and heart attack.
Tobacco and Athletic Performance * Don't get trapped. Nicotine in cigarettes, cigars, and spit tobacco is addictive. * Nicotine narrows your blood vessels and puts added strain on your heart. * Smoking can wreck lungs and reduce oxygen available for muscles used during sports.

* Smokers suffer shortness of breath (gasp!) almost 3 times more often than nonsmokers. * Smokers run slower and can't run as far, affecting overall athletic performance. * Cigars and spit tobacco are NOT safe alternatives.
Tobacco and Personal Appearance * Yuck! Tobacco smoke can make hair and clothes stink. * Tobacco stains teeth and causes bad breath. * Short-term use of spit tobacco can cause cracked lips, white spots, sores, and bleeding in the mouth. * Surgery to remove oral cancers caused by tobacco use can lead to serious changes in the face. Sean Marcee, a high school star athlete who used spit tobacco, died of oral cancer when he was 19 years old.
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* Know the truth. Despite all the tobacco use on TV and in movies, music videos, billboards and magazines–most teens, adults, and athletes DON'T use tobacco. * Make friends, develop athletic skills, control weight, be independent, be cool ... play sports. * Don't waste (burn) money on tobacco. Spend it on CDs, clothes, computer games, and movies. * Get involved: make your team, school, and home tobacco-free; teach others; join community efforts to prevent tobacco use.