Patrick Reynolds was the first tobacco industry figure to turn his back on the cigarette makers. He's a grandson of the tobacco company founder R.J. Reynolds, but the family's cigarette brands, Camel and Winston, killed his father and eldest brother.

Since first speaking out in Congress in 1986, Patrick has been a well respected champion for a tobacco free society. In hundreds of anti-tobacco talks before universities, his talks at middle and high schools, and through a new educational video, he has reminded hundreds of thousands of students of the dangers of tobacco.

This nationally known speaker combines tobacco education with motivational speaking. "In a little over an hour, Reynolds went from being just another anti-tobacco speaker to something special," commented one front page story in a local paper. Press coverage of his talks brings the tobaccofree message to communities where he visits, and this builds goodwill for local sponsors, like hospitals and health departments.

Teachers and district officials have offered their feedback about Mr. Reynolds' talks for grades 7-12. He also offers a highly motivational lecture program for universities, Initiation.

Patrick Reynolds is devoting his life to furthering the goal of a smokefree society, and to motivating young people to stay tobacco free.

If I could give you just one message today, it would be this: smoking is extremely addicting. Once you start, you may not be able to stop — ever. And the same is true for drugs and alcohol.

I can't emphasize this enough — some of you may not ever be able to stop, if you start smoking or chewing tobacco.

How long does it take to get hooked? A September 2000 study shows that one quarter of 12 to 13 year olds who smoke as few as two or three cigarettes a day become addicted in just two weeks. And many of the rest got addicted shortly after that.

Once hooked, the average smoker is unable to stop for seventeen years! And every year, they will spend $1200 or more on tobacco products, to maintain their addiction. What could you buy with the money you would save in two years? Your first car, perhaps? ^ top

Once they get addicted, most smokers make a strong effort to stop a number of times over the years. But most who quit fail and fail, and then fail again.

Reality check: there is no product which works well. 85 out of 100 smokers using the patch, gum or most other programs begin smoking again within under a year. Once you get hooked, there is just no easy way out.

Yet with no program at all, 95 out of 100 smokers go back to the habit again within a year. The lesson is clear. With no program, statistically you only have a 5% chance. With nicotine replacement, for example, the average quitter's chances increase to 15%.

So even though success is unlikely for most, getting help -- getting into a program increases your chances of quitting successfully by three times.

Not trying at all, of course, means that nothing will change.

So if you are smoking now or using dip, I urge you to first admit to yourself that maybe you aren't smoking so much out of choice, but also because you are addicted. And when you make a clear and firm decision to stop it, getting support from a good program will ease and light your way. In short, get help!

In fact, people who are the most successful at living life typically get plenty of help. For example, in business, a successful businesswoman or businessman gets a lawyer to write the contracts, an advertising agency to create the ads, a marketing executive to do the marketing, an accountant to do the accounting, a doctor when they're sick — people who succeed get help, and lots of it. Even the greatest novelists have editors who give them crucial feedback.

So don't be afraid to get help. If you are smoking now, or experimenting with tobacco, see the school nurse — or talk to an adult. Connecting with others is a big theme today. It's okay to talk to someone and get help. Check our free Ouitting Tips page for more info this.

The best way to avoid getting addicted is simply to not smoke — no matter what. ^ top

Some teens are not too concerned about the risk of disease later in life. But the fact is, cigarettes cause emphysema, lung cancer and heart disease, and 4 out of every 10 smokers later die from their addiction.

Today in the US, smoking causes 1 of every 5 deaths. Cigarettes kill 1,200 Americans every day — a tragic total of 420,000 American deaths each year.

Around the world, smoking kills two to three million people every year. The World Health Organization tells us that in coming decades, cigarettes will kill 500 million people, and all of them have already been born. That's 9% of the present world population! It means that almost 1 of every 10 people now alive on earth will die because of cigarettes.

Every day in the US, 3,000 teens become addicted to smoking — and 1,000 of those teens will later die from cigarettes. ^ top

Let's look at someone trying to quit smoking. For most addicted smokers, the addition is about half-mental, half-physical. This varies with each individual.

The physical portion of the addiction is to nicotine. The psychological part of the addiction is to the relaxing, familiar sensation of handling the cigarette, watching its curling smoke, the deep and relaxing breathing associated with inhaling and exhaling, the taste, and so on.

When quitting, a smoker's conscious mind says, "I will stop smoking — no problem." But the unconscious mind has been conditioned that cigarettes give pleasure, and that's all it can focus on.

The addicted, unconscious mind says, 'Give me a cigarette — now!' It only recognizes what feels good, or what doesn't feel good. It demands a cigarette without regard to right or wrong, and rebels against the conscious mind's decision to not smoke.

During the process of quitting, however, a new habit of being a nonsmoker forms. The unconscious mind gradually gets used to not smoking, and the urges to smoke die away. ^ top