PSYC62H3 Chapter 7: Nicotine & Caffeine
Document Summary
Tobacco consists of leaves from plants in the genus nicotiana. Traditional forms: tobacco consisted of rolled tobacco leaves, modern version: consist of cigars & cigarettes. Cigarettes: most commonly used tobacco plant; typically smokes 13 cigarettes per day; many cigarettes contain filter of cellulose acetate that reduces amount of tobacco tar inhaled. Tar: particles released from tobacco that contain nicotine and other tobacco chemicals. Asia has highest rates of tobacco use; generally males > female, but varies by country. Tobacco has serious health effects: cancer, pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, secondhand smoking also increases health risk to those exposed to it, also sids (sudden infant death syndrome) Indigenous peoples in american smoked tobacco as part of their religious practices; religious ceremonies, tobacco was smoked to achieve a trancelike state until european discovered tobacco and brought back to europe. Risks and complaints grew and medical concern: compared deleterious health effects of chimneysweeps to those of tobacco smokers.
