Substance abuse and anaesthesia—Part 2

Abstract

Tobacco and alcohol remain the most abused substances in South Africa and elsewhere in the western world. Tobacco is commonly smoked, but in South Africa it is also “sniffed” as snuff, and if inhaled causes as much damage as inhaled tobacco smoke. There is also a high incidence of related cancer.¹ Likewise people exposed passively to tobacco smoke may acquire smoking-related conditions such as coronary artery disease and asthma.²