Smoking: the facts
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There are approximately 15 million cigarette
smokers in Britain, despite the overall fall in the level of cigarette smoking from 41% of the population in 1976 to 27% in 2003. Roughly equal numbers of men and women smoke, and half will eventually be killed by their addiction. There are around 120,000 smoking related
deaths a year in the UK. More people die as a result of
nicotine addiction than die each year from accidents (including road traffic accidents), poisoning and
overdose, suicide, murder, manslaughter and AIDS put together. Those killed by tobacco lose on average 14 years of their lives. One fifth of Britain's 15 year olds are regular smokers even though it is illegal to sell
tobacco to them. Of those 15 year olds a significant majority are girls. As smoking poses additional health risks for women this is a worrying trend.
What's in cigarette smoke?
Cigarette smoke contains about 5000 chemical compounds including nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide and other poisonous gases.
Nicotine
Nicotine stimulates the central nervous system increasing the smoker's heart rate and
blood pressure. It is highly addictive. Like cocaine and
heroin, nicotine affects the brain's dopamine reward system. Its addictive properties are most graphically illustrated by the fact that 70% of all smokers would like to give up but only 1-2% are successful on any one attempt. Even those who have been forced
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