Effects
Some people feel that smoking makes them feel relaxed while others believe it gives them energy. This is because nicotine is both a stimulant and a sedative. When you have a smoke, the smoke is inhaled into your lungs and the nicotine is released into your body making your heart rate increase and your blood pressure rise.
Most people don’t like smoking the first time they try it. First time smokers may feel dizzy and sick. But nicotine is very addictive and once people are hooked it can be very hard to give up. What makes matters worse is that smoking is very bad for you. It has been directly linked with cancer, heart and lung disease, blood clots and strokes. In Northern Ireland smoking contributes to at least 2,500 deaths a year.

But even if you don’t smoke, breathing in someone else’s smoke can damage your health and make existing conditions like asthma worse.

Smokers also tend to pick up more colds, chest infections and coughs. Smoking also dulls your sense of taste and smell, which is just as well because smokers tend to smell like ash trays.

The Law
It is illegal to sell cigarettes to anyone under 16.