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Do you know... Tobacco 

© 2003 CAMH

What is it?


Tobacco is most commonly smoked in cigarettes. It is also smoked in cigars or pipes, chewed as chewing tobacco, sniffed as dry snuff or held inside the lip or cheek as wet snuff. Tobacco may also be mixed with cannabis and smoked in "joints." All methods of using tobacco deliver nicotine to the body.


Where does tobacco come from?

Tobacco was cultivated and widely used by the peoples of the Americas long before the arrival of Europeans. Today, most of the tobacco sold in Canada is grown in Ontario. The plant's large leaves are cured, fermented and aged before they are manufactured into tobacco products. Canadian tobacco is commercially packaged and sold to retailers by one of three tobacco companies.

Who uses tobacco?

Greater awareness of the negative health effects of smoking and increased restrictions have led to a steady decline in rates of smoking in Canada. In 1965, almost half of the population smoked. By 2002, this rate had dipped to less than a quarter (23 per cent of men and 20 per cent of women, aged 15 and over). Despite the decline, 5.4 million Canadians still smoke.

Most people who smoke begin between the ages of 11 and 15. An ongoing survey of Ontario students in grades 7 to OAC indicates that cigarette smoking has declined in young people, from 29.2 per cent in 1999, to 23.6 per cent in 2001.



Studies show that genetic factors play a role in whether or not a person will become dependent on nicotine.


How does tobacco make you feel?

The nicotine in tobacco smoke travels quickly to the brain, where it acts as a stimulant and increases heart rate and breathing. Tobacco smoke also reduces the level of oxygen in the bloodstream, causing a drop in skin temperature. Inexperienced smokers are likely to experience dizziness, nausea and coughing or gagging.



How smoking affects you depends on:

  • how much and how often you smoke
  • how long you've been smoking
  • your mood, expectations and the environment
  • your age
  • whether you have certain pre-existing medical or psychiatric conditions
  • whether you've taken alcohol or other drugs (illicit, prescription, over-the-counter or herbal).

How long does the feeling last?


Is tobacco dangerous?



When tobacco is burned, a dark sticky "tar" is formed from a combination of hundreds of chemicals, including poisons that cause cancers and bronchial disorders. Tar is released in tobacco smoke in tiny particles that damage the lungs and airways and stain teeth and fingers. Tar is the main cause of lung and throat cancers.

Burning tobacco also forms carbon monoxide (CO), a poisonous gas you can't see or smell. When smoke is inhaled, CO replaces oxygen in red blood cells. While nicotine speeds up the heart, making it work harder, CO deprives it of the extra oxygen this work demands. This is one way that smoking contributes to
heart disease.

Canadian laws require that levels of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide appear on cigarette packages. It was once thought that cigarettes with less tar and nicotine might be less harmful to the smoker. However, research has shown that so-called "light" cigarettes are just as likely to cause disease.

Is tobacco addictive?

Yes. Once a person begins to smoke, particularly at a young age, the chances of becoming addicted are quite high. New smokers quickly develop tolerance to the initial ill effects, and if they enjoy the stimulant and pleasant effects, they may begin to smoke regularly. Regular smokers tend to smoke a consistent number of cigarettes per day. Canadian smokers have, on average, about 16 cigarettes per day.

Nicotine dependence involves psychological and physical factors. Psychological factors may include feelings of pleasure and alertness. People who smoke regularly may learn to rely on the effects of nicotine to bring about these feelings. They also develop conditioned signals, or "triggers," for cigarette use. For example, some people always smoke after a meal, while working at a certain task or while in certain emotional states, such as feeling depressed or anxious. These triggers lead to behaviour patterns, or habits, which can be difficult to change.


People who are dependent on nicotine may become tolerant to the desired effects. They may no longer experience pleasure from smoking, but continue smoking to avoid nicotine withdrawal.


Quitting smoking

People who quit smoking can generally achieve the same health levels as non-smokers after a few years, especially if they stop while they are young. Quitting smoking can take several attempts, so it is important to keep trying. Stop-smoking aids containing nicotine, such as the patch, gum, inhaler or nasal spray can help to ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings. Such aids work best when the person is highly motivated to quit, and when the person has other supports, such as family, friends, a stop-smoking group or telephone support.

Certain medications that do not contain nicotine can help people to quit smoking. These include bupropion (Zyban®) and nortriptyline (Aventyl®). Both are available by prescription.


There are currently more former smokers than smokers in Canada. In 2001, 24 per cent of the population, or about 5.9 million Canadians aged 15 and over, reported they had quit smoking.

What are the long-term effects of using tobacco?



  • is the main cause of lung cancer
  • causes most cases of chronic bronchitis and emphysema
  • causes smoker's cough
  • is a major cause of heart disease and stroke
  • causes osteoporosis (thinning of the bones)
  • increases risk of digestive problems
  • affects the immune system, making smokers more prone to colds, flus and pneumonia


  • has been linked to heart disease and cancer


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