Tobacco is a drug. A drug is any substance taken by people to change either the way they feel, think or behave
Tobacco is a herbal plant grown extensively through out the world. It falls under the category of drugs known as selective drugs since its effects vary from person to person. Tobacco sedates and stimulates. It is a plant with tapering hairy leaves that are dried and prepared for snuffing, chewing and smoking. Nicotine is the main active ingredient and most addictive substance in tobacco. It contains 4,700 chemicals, 40 of which are carcinogenic. In a tobacco plantation, no other animal, insect or plant can survive the harsh chemical environment produced by the tobacco plant. In Kenya, common tobacco products are filter-tipped cigarettes, cheroots, cigars, snuff and Kuber (an illegal product smuggled in from India).
According to results of a national baseline survey on alcohol and drug abuse in Kenya [ released by the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse on 26th March 2004 (NACADA 2004), ] tobacco is one of the most commonly abused drug in Kenya. The others are alcohol, bhang, miraa (khat), inhalants and prescription drugs
Tobacco is a temperate crop which is grown in more than 100 countries world-wide, mostly in developing countries. China is the world’s largest producer, followed by the USA, India, Brazil and Turkey. These five countries produce nearly two-thirds of global output.
The plant is divided into two:
- Nicotiana tabaccum
- Nicotiana rustica- this is not used commercially.
Tobacco comes in these forms: cigars. Pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco and cigarettes.
History
The growth is dated back as far as about 6000 B.C by the Americans. The following are some of the ways in which the drug was used long ago:
- Tobacco was believed to cure almost all diseases and was used in dressing of wounds and the relieving of pain.
- Chewing of the plant was believed to cure toothaches
- Soldiers also used tobacco in First World War to escape from the horrors of the war. Cigarettes were therefore given the name ‘soldier’s smoke.
- Romans believed that the drug could cure 36 health problems.
- It’s popularity caused it to be used as a medium of exchange.
Street Names
In many cases those who abuse tobacco do not refer it in the normal terms for various reasons. For example students may wish to escape notice by parents and teachers. Some of the names used are
- Gaff
- Ngale
- algae
- fegi
- cancer sticks
- mozo
- zale
- cigs
- butts
- fags
- kafera
- smokes
- sigara
- puff