Nicotine (Stimulant/depressant)
Street Name: (Contained in tobacco) fags, ciggy
What it looks like and how it's taken:
Cigarettes, pipes, cigars, loose tobacco, chewing tobacco.
Smoked, chewed.
Immediate effects:
Acts fast, first increasing alertness then producing a sense of relaxation.
Risks:
Short term: Nicotine addiction can develop quite rapidly and regular smokers often feel anxious and irritable if unable to smoke. Smoking can restrict growth in young smokers.
Long term: Other chemicals in tobacco cause lung cancer and stomach diseases, heart disease, circulation problems, wrinkled skin and premature ageing.
Legal status: It is illegal for retailers to sell tobacco to anyone under 16.
