3.+Effects+of+Nicotine

=EFFECTS OF NICOTINE=

In 1989, the US Surgeon General reported that nicotine was an addictive drug found in tobacco. In low concentrations, like the amount absorbed by people in cigarettes (1mg), nicotine acts as a stimulant. 45,000 Canadians die each year from smoking (Health Canada, 2006). Canada was the first country in the world to put mandatory Health Canada warning images on cigarette packages. The Canadian Tobacco Act has mandated that warnings be printed on all tobacco products sold legally in Canada. The current set of 15 warnings was introduced in 2000, replacing older versions from 1994. The warning is required to take up at least 50% of the visible surface of all tobacco product packaging sold legally in Canada. Imported cigarettes to Canada not bearing the warning are affixed with sticker versions when they are sold legally in Canada. These warnings include the risks of cancer- both oral and lung, gum disease, tooth loss, breathing difficulties, including emphysema, and the clogging of heart arteries, resulting in heart attacks, stroke, and even death. With specific regards to women and reproduction, nicotine has been linked to lower estrogen levels, early menopuse, and infertility.