#ashtray
/sound effects, smoking run once
/AJL SUBSTANCE ABUSE SMOKING
/general
Cigarettes are plant leaves which have been dried & wrapped in special easy-burn paper. The leaves are ignited & allowed to smoulder. The smoke & vapors that are given off are inhaled into the {lungs} of the user. It is now known that smoking is a major health hazard both to the smoker & to those around them.


Cigarettes contain numerous harmful substances. The dangers of 3 of them are particularly important:
$2
NICOTINE: This is the substance that causes addiction to tobacco. It stimulates the body to produce {adrenalin} - this makes the {heart} beat faster & pushes up {blood pressure}.


TAR: This produces chronic irritation of the {respiratory system} & is thought to be a major cause of {lung} {cancer}.
CARBON MONOXIDE: A poisonous gas which cuts down the amount of {oxygen} the {blood} can carry to the {heart} & all other parts of the body. 


Both nicotine & carbon monoxide may encourage {thrombosis}, or {blood} clotting. When you inhale cigarette smoke, the little hairs, {cilia}, in the air passages stop working. Mucus carrying waste substances, tar & nicotine slips back into your {lungs}. Eventually the cilia stop working even when you are not smoking.