This book traces changing attitudes to tobacco largely through the experiences of the author. He grew up raising tobacco and, influenced by advertising, began smoking as a youth. He was conducting research in a chemical laboratory involving carcinogenic substances when the health effects of tobacco began to surface. While he was working with public interest organizations, environmental tobacco smoke began to be recognized as an indoor pollutant. Ethical issues forced him, like many others, to stop smoking, and he eventually became quite involved in pastoral work with sick smokers. The final chapter surveys the lessons that can be learned from one person's tobacco days.

More and more scientists are applying the concepts of motivation and related constructs to modify the behavior of drug-addicted and dependent people. Here, authors discuss effective ‘translational’ strategies for decreasing and preventing tobacco use.

This book gives middle-school students the lowdown on the consequences of drug use, describing the symptoms of addiction, including the physical, emotional, and social damage that can arise from substance abuse. Alarming facts and statistics share how prevalent drug abuse can be among teens. Forms of tobacco including cigars, cigarettes, snuff, and chewing tobacco contain the highly addictive drug nicotine. This book provides information on the dangers of tobacco and nicotine, both stimulant drugs that affect the central nervous system. Personal stories of teens who used drugs and the realities they faced unfold along with advice on how to deal with peer pressure when choosing to say no. Most importantly, there is an entire chapter devoted to getting help.