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Smoking and Teens
Why do some teens smoke?
There are a variety of reasons teens choose to smoke. You may choose to
smoke for the following reasons:
• Peer pressure. You are trying to find a way to fit in with a group
of friends, a boyfriend, or a girlfriend.
• Entertainment. You think it is a fun activity with friends or at
parties.
• Curiosity. You want to see what it is like.
• Rebellion. You do it because you want to make your own decisions
and you know that your family or others do not want you to smoke.
• Stress. You think it will help you relax and temporarily escape
from a stressful situation.
Very few people start smoking after they are 20. Most smokers started
smoking when they were teens and could not quit. The main problem with smoking is that it
becomes very hard to stop. Before you light up, don't ask yourself, "Do I want to try
smoking?" The question you need to ask yourself is "Do I want to be a smoker or
a non-smoker?" You can't be both.
How will smoking change my life today?
You may gain what you are seeking. You may become accepted with a group of
friends. You may feel more like an adult, or a rebel, or you have more fun at parties. The
problem is that once you start smoking the addiction also starts and your body will start
craving and needing cigarettes. You won't be in control of smoking -- smoking will control
you. Smoking will start to interfere with every aspect of your life. When you go out to
concerts, dinner, dances, and movies, you will always be thinking, "Where can I go to
smoke?" You may even have to leave in the middle of a movie or an event to go smoke
because your addiction is so strong.
Cigarettes do not smell good. The nicotine in the cigarette is what your
body is craving, not the smell of the cigarette. The smell will get into your clothes,
your car, and your room -- not to mention your breath. Even if you become used to the
smell, non-smokers do not often tolerate the smell very well. Non-smokers can also be
harmed by breathing in your smoke and will likely not want to be around you while you are
smoking. This means you will be forced to smoke outside (even when it is cold) or in a
separate area away from other people. Or, you won't be allowed to smoke in certain places
at all. Sadly, you will find yourself deciding not to go to certain events just because
you cannot smoke there.
Also, cigarettes will cost you a lot of money. Cigarettes are often
between $3.00 and $4.00 per pack. An average smoker spends $1600 to $2000 a year on
cigarettes. How are you going to pay for that? You can probably think of many other things
you would like to spend your money on.
How will smoking change my life in the future?
Most adults who smoke will tell you that they wish they would have never
started. They probably started smoking when they were teens for the same reasons many
teens start smoking today. Your parents or other adults aren't trying to prevent you from
smoking to ruin your fun. They know that it will make your life much more difficult in the
future.
Teens often don't care about how smoking will affect them when they are
older. However, you should be aware of the many long-term health problems that come from
smoking:
• About half a million people die every year from cancer, breathing
problems, stroke, and other health problems caused by smoking.
• Almost everyone who has lung cancer is either a smoker or lives
with a smoker.
• Smoking is the major cause of emphysema, a debilitating lung
disease that makes you wheeze and pant and be unable to catch your breath.
• Smokers have a two times greater risk of fatal heart disease and
are more likely to have a stroke, which is a sudden damage to the brain from a blood
vessel problem.
• Smokers have a greater chance of having peptic ulcers, bone
fractures, sleep disorders and more colds.
• Smoking affects pregnant women and their unborn children. Smoking
mothers have a greater risk of miscarriage and stillbirth.
The more cigarettes a person smokes each day, the greater the risk of
disease. Fortunately when a smoker stops smoking, many of the above risks decrease.
How can I quit smoking?
If you smoke, talk with your health care provider or counselor about
finding a way to quit. Be committed to your decision. Set a quit date and get support from
friends and family. Quitting is difficult, so don't be hard on yourself if you make a
mistake. Try to stick with quitting and don't give up. If you have friends that smoke, one
of the greatest contributions you can make to their life is to help them stop smoking.
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