Harmful effects of Smoking and Drinking Smoking N Tobacco contains from one to three per cent of nicotine and the average smoker absorbs about 2 milligrams from one cigar. N Every time you take a puff of the cigarette, the capillary beds of the lung deliver to the brain more nicotine than a dose of heroin an addict injects into the brain. N Smokers are ten times more prone to lung cancer than non-smokers. N Every time you smoke, you are inhaling substantial amount of carbon monoxide, a very poisonous gas. Drinking N Impairs the nervous system and causes slow reactions, poor vision, blurred speech and loss of judgement. N Abnormal behaviour such as giggling, crying, aggression and rowdyism. N Lack of muscle co-ordination so that the person stumbles, falls or drives carelessly. N The skin blood vessels carry an abnormal amount of blood and the subsequent decrease in blood supply to the liver and kidneys may be dangerous. The kidneys also suffer from lack of water because more water is sent to the skin. N If alcoholism develops, the victim craves for a drink even in the early mornings. One small drink may now cause loss of control and the person becomes pathetic and depraved. N Alcoholism can develop into ‘DTs’ or delirium tremens, due to damages of the brain-cells, and the victim may suffer from frightful hallucinations.