Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 9 Tobacco 267 nfortunately, more people start to smoke each day. Most teenag- ers who begin to smoke do plan to quit, and they believe that quitting will be fairly easy. They soon fi nd that smoking is a very fi hard habit to break. The majority of teens who smoke become adults who regularly smoke. Given the expense and the negative effects of tobacco use on health, people’s continued use of tobacco is surprising. Most people who use to- bacco know that it can cause them to become ill or even die. This lesson examines some of the barriers that lead people to continue to use tobacco. Addiction People often talk about addiction in relation to a specific substance. In fi this case, a substance is a drug, such as nicotine, alcohol, or an illegal drug. Substance abuse is the use of a drug or intentional misuse of prescription medication that causes harmful, dangerous effects. Addiction helps explain why many people who start using a sub- stance believe it will be easy to quit, but then have great diffi quitting. ficulty A Addiction is the physical and psychological need for a given substance or behavior. Addiction to a substance usually develops in four stages (Figure 9.8 on the next page). U Rates of Smoking by Age A national study conducted by the Centers for r Disease Control revealed that the rate of smoking g varies considerably across the life span. The rates s of smoking by age are represented in the following g table. Why does age make a difference in smoking rates? ra te s? One O ne major m aj or reason r ea so n is is that t ha t older ol de r adults ad ul ts are a re more likely to have smoked in the past, but have since quit. About 33% of people 50 to 64 years of age, g , and about 47% of people p p 65 years y of age g an nd older are former smokers. In contrast, only 12% of people 18 to 29 years of age, and only 23% of those th os e 30 30 to t o 49 49 years y ea rs of o f age ag e have ha ve quit q ui t smoking. sm ok in g. People who smoked in the past but have since quit u are not counted as smokers for their age g range. g S S Sm kers k ok i i in th t h he younger age ranges may end d d up quitting as they grow older. Health across the Life Span Analyzing Data 1 1. Over O ime, ti he th h he l al h th consequences f of t bacco ob o use have become more well known. How mightt this information relate to the numbers of smokers e and former smokers in different age groups? 2. Do you think these differences in smoking ratess y b by age will il l stay th he same over ti im e, or ill wi ll th he y change? Explain your reasoning. substance abuse the use of a drug (nicotine, alcohol, or illegal drugs) or intentional misuse of medication addiction the physical and psychological need for a substance or behavior Proportion of Age Groups that Smoke high school students 9% adults 18–24 13% adults 25–44 18% adults 45–64 17% adults ad ul ts 65+ 6 5+ 8% 8%