Tobacco

Last revised: August 5, 2025

Tobacco is a plant grown for its leaves. The leaves are then used to make commercial tobacco products.

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Types of Tobacco

Traditional tobacco

Traditional tobacco is different from commercial tobacco. Indigenous people have used traditional tobacco (also called ceremonial or sacred tobacco) for thousands of years. Traditional tobacco comes only from the plant and does not contain added chemicals Traditional tobacco is used in ceremonial or sacred rituals for healing, purifying and giving thanks.

Commercial tobacco

Commercial tobacco products are made with the leaves of the tobacco plant and chemicals. Commercial tobacco products can be smoked or ‘chewed’ and are sold for profit by companies.

  • Smoked commercial tobacco products include cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos (mini cigar) and water pipes (hookah).
    • Cigarettes are the most common commercial tobacco product, which uses finely cut tobacco leaves that are rolled in thin paper.
    • A cigarillo is a mini-cigar wrapped in a tobacco leaf instead of paper.
    • A cigar is tobacco rolled in tobacco leaves. Cigars are much larger than cigarillos and cigarettes.
  • ‘Chewed’ commercial tobacco products include chewing tobacco or wet snuff which is held inside the lip or cheek.
    • Chew is a smokeless tobacco product using shredded or twisted tobacco leaves.
    • Snus is fine, ground up tobacco that often comes in a tea bag-like form.

Commercial tobacco smoke contains between 4000 and 7000 chemicals, and at least 70 of those chemicals are known to cause cancer (carcinogens).

The chemicals come from three places:

  • In the tobacco plant and soil.
  • From the process of burning known as combustion (what the person smoking inhales as well as the smoke from the end of a burning cigarette).
  • Added by the Tobacco Industry to make the product less harsh to reduce throat irritation and increase the risk of nicotine addiction.

Tobacco is a plant grown for its leaves. The leaves are then used to make commercial tobacco products.

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Effects of smoking

The smell of smoke can stay in people’s hair and clothing. It can also leave a bad taste in the mouth and cause bad breath, as well as leave yellow staining on teeth and fingers.

Some short-term health effects of smoking can include:

  • Coughing
  • Trouble breathing
  • Dry irritated throat
  • Dizziness
  • Increase heart rate and blood pressure
  • Frequent colds, flu, ear infections
  • Less energy and strength
  • Nicotine dependence

Some long-term health effects from smoking can include:

  • Causing lung cancer and other types of cancer. Smoking is the main cause of lung cancer and increases the risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, colon, bladder, and pancreas
  • Causing lung disease, such as emphysema
  • Causing heart disease and stroke
  • Affecting the immune system (the system in the body that protects us from getting sick) making people who smoke more prone to colds, flu and pneumonia

To learn more about the health effects of smoking and second-hand smoke, visit Health Canada’s website.

Nicotine

Nicotine (found in tobacco leaf) is a stimulant that increases heart rate and blood pressure. It can affect brain development, memory and concentration (potentially harm a developing brain).

Nicotine can take as little as 10 seconds to reach the brain after being inhaled and releases chemicals in the brain that can make someone feel more alert and calmer. As a person introduces nicotine into their body, they begin to crave more, which increases their risk of nicotine addiction and using tobacco products for a long time.

Addiction

To learn more about addiction, visit the Ottawa Public Health’s Substance Use Health webpage.

Withdrawal symptoms

When you reduce or stop smoking, the nicotine levels in your blood decrease. This can cause withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal can be intense when you first reduce or quit, but they usually decrease with time. Symptoms can last a few days to several weeks. Remember: every person who smokes experiences withdrawal differently.

Some withdrawal symptoms can include:

  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Hunger
  • Increased coughing
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Nervousness and/or shakes
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Lower risk use

Nicotine is addictive. How addicted you become can make it more difficult for you to stop. The nicotine products you use and the way you use them also make a difference. Cigarettes are the most addictive while Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is the least. Avoid health risks by not using nicotine. If you do decide to use nicotine follow the tips below to help lower the risks to your health. and try to reduce or quit your use.

Talk to your health care provider and visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca/MentalHealthResources.

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The law

To learn more about the Smoke-Free and Vape-Free regulations, visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca/Smoke-Free.

For more information:

  • Ottawa Public Health has no cost, bilingual online courses available on Olearn including:
    • Youth Education Modules: Learn about commercial tobacco, vaping, cannabis and their health effects. Information about smoke-free and vapour-free regulations will be shared with resources and services related to mental health and substance use health.
  • Second-hand smoke, smoke-free spaces and the law – Ottawa Public Health
  • Where you can’t smoke or vape in Ontario – Government of Ontario
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Where to go for help

If you are thinking about reducing or quitting smoking, you are not alone. Most people that use tobacco want to quit and have tried to quit several times. Quitting smoking is a process that takes practice. It is about finding what works for you and putting those tools to work to reach your goal of becoming smoke-free.

Remember the 4 D's of quitting:

  • Delay the smoke
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Distract yourself
  • Deep Breaths

If you are concerned about yourself or someone else, seek help from:

For more information on resources and services available, visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca/MentalHealthResources.

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