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
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 factors that lead people to continue to use tobacco.
Addiction
People often talk about addiction in relation to a specifi c substance. In
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 culty quitting.
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
Disease Control revealed that the rate of smoking
varies considerably across the life span. The rates
of smoking by age are represented in the following
table.
Why does age make a difference in smoking
rates? One major reason is that older adults are
more likely to have smoked in the past, but have
since quit. About 33% of people 50 to 64 years of
age, and about 47% of people 65 years of age and
older are former smokers. In contrast, only 12%
of people 18 to 29 years of age, and only 23% of
those 30 to 49 years of age have quit smoking.
People who smoked in the past but have since quit
are not counted as smokers for their age range.
Smokers in the younger age ranges may end up
quitting as they grow older.
Health across the Life Span
Analyzing Data
1. Over time, the health consequences of tobacco
use have become more well known. How might
this information relate to the numbers of smokers
and former smokers in different age groups?
2. Do you think these differences in smoking rates
by age will stay the same over time, or will they
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 18%
adults 18-24 17%
adults 25-44 22%
adults 45-64 20%
adults 65+ 9%