Teen smoking: 10 ways to keep teens smoke-free Want to prevent teen smoking?

Understand why teens smoke and how to talk to your teen about cigarettes

!y "ayo #linic staff Teen smoking might begin innocently$ but it can become a long-term problem %n fact$ most adult smokers begin smoking as teenagers &our best bet? 'elp your teen avoid taking that first puff (ollow these tips to help prevent teen smoking

1 )et a good e*ample

Teen smoking is more common among teens whose parents smoke %f you don+t smoke$ keep it up %f you do smoke$ ,uit - now The earlier you stop smoking$ the less likely your teen is to become a smoker .sk your doctor about ways to stop smoking

%n the meantime$ don+t smoke in the house$ in the car or in front of your teen$ and don+t leave cigarettes where your teen might find them /*plain to your teen how unhappy you are with your smoking$ how difficult it is to ,uit and that you+ll keep trying until you stop smoking for good

0 Understand the attraction

Teen smoking can be a form of rebellion or a way to fit in with a particular group of friends )ome teens begin smoking to control their weight 1thers smoke to feel cool or independent

.sk your teen how he or she feels about smoking and if any of your teen+s friends smoke .pplaud your teen+s good choices$ and talk about the conse,uences of bad choices &ou might also talk with your teen about how tobacco companies try to influence ideas about smoking - such as through

advertisements or product placement in the movies that create the perception that smoking is glamorous and more prevalent than it really is

2 )ay no to teen smoking

&ou might feel as if your teen doesn+t hear a word you say$ but say it anyway Tell your teen that smoking isn+t allowed &our disapproval will have more impact than you think Teens whose parents set the firmest smoking restrictions tend to smoke less than do teens whose parents don+t set smoking limits The same goes for teens who feel close to their parents

3 .ppeal to your teen+s vanity

)moking isn+t glamorous 4emind your teen that smoking is dirty and smelly )moking gives you bad breath and wrinkles )moking makes your clothes and hair smell$ and it turns your teeth yellow )moking can leave you with a chronic cough and less energy for sports and other en5oyable activities

6 7o the math

)moking is e*pensive 'elp your teen calculate the weekly$ monthly or yearly cost of smoking a pack a day &ou might compare the cost of smoking with that of electronic devices$ clothes or other teen essentials Teen smoking: 10 ways to keep teens smoke-free

8 /*pect peer pressure

(riends who smoke can be convincing$ but you can give your teen the tools he or she needs to refuse cigarettes 4ehearse how to handle tough social situations %t might be as simple as saying$ 9:o thanks$ % don+t smoke 9 The more your teen practices this basic refusal$ the more likely he or she will say no at the moment of truth

; Take addiction seriously

"ost teens believe occasional smoking won+t cause them to become addicted and that$ if they become regular smokers$ they can stop smoking anytime they want Teens$ however$ can become addicted with intermittent and relatively low levels of smoking 4emind your teen that most adult smokers start as teens 1nce you+re hooked$ it+s tough to ,uit

< =redict the future

Teens tend to assume that bad things happen only to other people "ost teens think cancer$ heart attacks and strokes occur only in the abstract Use loved ones$ friends$ neighbors or celebrities who+ve been ill as real-life e*amples

> Think beyond cigarettes

)mokeless tobacco$ clove cigarettes ?kreteks@ and candy-flavored cigarettes ?bidis@ are sometimes mistaken as less harmful or addictive than are traditional cigarettes Teens also often think that water pipe ?hookah@ smoking is safe :othing could be further from the truth Areteks$ bidis and hookahs all carry health risks 7on+t let your teen be fooled

10 Bet involved

Take an active stance against teen smoking =articipate in local and schoolsponsored smoking prevention campaigns )upport efforts to make public places smoke-free and increase ta*es on tobacco products &our actions can help reduce the odds that your teen will become a smoker

%f your teen has already started smoking$ avoid threats and ultimatums %nstead$ find out why your teen is smoking - and discuss ways to help your teen ,uit .voiding or stopping smoking is one of the best things your teen can do for a lifetime of good health

Teen smoking: 'ow to help your teen ,uit Want to stop teen smoking? (ollow this no-nonsense approach$ from setting a good e*ample to making a plan and celebrating success

!y "ayo #linic staff Teen smoking is a big deal .fter all$ teens who smoke are likely to turn into adults who smoke

%f you find your teen smoking$ take it seriously )topping teen smoking in its tracks is the best way to promote a lifetime of good health

)et a good e*ample

.s a parent$ you+re one of the most powerful influences in your teen+s life and your actions speak louder than your words %f you smoke$ don+t e*pect your teen to stop smoking &our teen likely interprets your smoking as an endorsement for the behavior %nstead$ ask your doctor about stop-smoking products and other resources to help you stop smoking

%n the meantime$ don+t smoke in the house$ in the car or in front of your teen$ and don+t leave cigarettes where your teen might find them /*plain how unhappy you are with your smoking$ and why it+s so important to you to ,uit

)tart talking

&ou could simply tell your teen to stop smoking %t+s an important message !ut commands$ threats and ultimatums aren+t likely to work %nstead of getting angry$ be curious and supportive .sk your teen what made him or her start smoking =erhaps your teen is trying to fit in at school$ or maybe your teen thinks that smoking will help relieve stress )ometimes teen smoking is an attempt to feel cool or more grown-up

1nce you understand why your teen is smoking$ you+ll be better e,uipped to address smoking as a potential problem - as well as help your teen eventually stop smoking

Teens can become addicted to nicotine surprisingly ,uickly - sometimes within 5ust a few weeks of e*perimenting with smoking While many teens who smoke think they can stop anytime$ research shows this isn+t usually true

When you talk to your teen about stopping smoking$ ask if any of his or her friends have tried to stop smoking #onsider why they were - or weren+t successful Then ask your teen which stop-smoking strategies he or she thinks might be most helpful 1ffer your own suggestions as well:

=ut it on paper /ncourage your teen to write down why he or she wants to stop smoking The list can help your teen stay motivated when temptation arises )et a ,uit date 'elp your teen choose a date to stop smoking .void placing the stop date during a stressful time$ such as final e*ams 'ang out with friends who don+t smoke Would your teen+s friends support your teen+s stop-smoking plan? Would they try to stop smoking$ too? %f your teen feels pressured to smoke$ encourage him or her to get involved in new activities "aking new friends who don+t smoke could make it easier to avoid friends who aren+t willing to stop smoking =ractice saying no =eer pressure to smoke might be inevitable$ but your teen doesn+t need to give in 'elp your teen practice saying$ 9:o thanks$ % don+t smoke 9

!e prepared for cravings 4emind your teen that if he or she can hold out long enough - usually 5ust a few minutes - the nicotine craving will pass )uggest taking a few deep breaths 1ffer sugarless gum$ cinnamon sticks$ toothpicks or straws to help your teen keep his or her mouth busy #onsider stop-smoking products .lthough nicotine replacement products such as nicotine gums$ patches$ inhalers or nasal sprays - weren+t designed for teens$ they might be helpful in some cases .sk your teen+s doctor which options might be best for your teen )eek support #ontact a tobacco-cessation specialist . tobacco-cessation specialist can give your teen the tools and support he or she needs to stop smoking )ome hospitals and local organiCations offer stop-smoking groups 5ust for teens &ou might look for teen groups online$ too Web-based programs can also provide support for your teen whenever he or she needs it %f your teen slips$ remain supportive #ongratulate your teen on the progress he or she has made so far$ and encourage your teen not to give up 'elp your teen identify what went wrong and what to do differently ne*t time

.bove all$ celebrate your teen+s success &ou might offer a favorite meal for a smoke-free day$ a new shirt for a smoke-free week or a party with nonsmoking friends for a smoke-free month 4ewards and positive reinforcement can help your teen maintain the motivation to stop smoking for good

)tages in youth smokingDeditE

There are a series of stages that young smokers go through$ each of which is influenced by different factors The stages can progress in any direction and restart any number of times =recontemplationDeditE The child$ while not yet considering smoking$ has received messages about it .t this stage$ the child is most powerfully influenced by family members that smoke$ advertising$ films$ television$ and role models D10E #ontemplationDeditE %nformation received from the media or from peer influence results in curiosity and the desire to try a cigarette .t this stage$ friendsF behavior is

added to the list of influences D10E %nitiationDeditE "ost youths will try a cigarette$ but the ma5ority do not become addicted or become regular smokers =eers tend to e*ert the strongest influence D10E /*perimentationDeditE This stage involves repeated smoking attempts which may result in addiction to nicotine .t this stage$ youths tend to become regular smokers =eers continue to e*ert the strongest influence D10E 4egular smokingDeditE .dditional influences 5oin the initial set of addiction and habituation including beliefs about the benefits of smoking$ self-efficacy$ self-perception$ and coping )ocietal factors also begin to play a role D10E "aintenanceDeditE The continuation of regular smoking involving all of the previous influences with addiction being the primary driving factor D10E GuittingDeditE This stage only happens once the importance of influences change and the individual reaches a decision to stop smoking D10E facts to be used in the presentation >0 percent of smokers began before the age 01

/very day$ almost 2$>00 adolescents under 1< years of age try their first cigarette "ore than >60 of them will become daily smokers

.bout 20 percent of teen smokers will continue smoking and die early from a smoking-related disease

Teen smokers are more likely to have panic attacks$ an*iety disorders and depression

1 of 6 teenagers who are addicted to cigarettes smokes 12-16 a day

.ppro*imately 1 6 million packs of cigarettes are purchased for minors annually

)moking can age skin faster$ second only to the effect sun e*posure has on giving premature wrinkles

1n average$ smokers die 12 to 13 years earlier than nonsmokers

.ccording to the )urgeon Beneral$ teenagers who smoke are three times more likely to use alcohol$ eight times more likely to smoke mari5uana$ and 00 times more likely to use cocaine

The lungs of teens who smoke will not develop fully$ which puts them at higher risk for lung disease

%n the United )tates$ about 00 percent of teens consider themselves to be regular smokers

health effects 1n average$ each cigarette shortens a smoker+s life by around 11 minutes

#igarettes contain more than 3000 chemical compounds and at least 300 to*ic substances When you inhale$ a cigarette burns at ;00H# at the tip and around 80H# in the core This heat breaks down the tobacco to produce various to*ins

.s a cigarette burns$ the residues are concentrated towards the butt The products that are most damaging are: tar$ a carcinogen ?substance that causes cancer@ nicotine is addictive and increases cholesterol levels in your body carbon mono*ide reduces o*ygen in the body components of the gas and particulate phases cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder ?#1=7@ )moking affects how long you live 4esearch has shown that smoking reduces life e*pectancy by seven to eight years 7id you know? 1n average$ each cigarette shortens a smoker+s life by around 11 minutes 1f the 200 people who die every day in the UA as a result of smoking$ many are comparatively young smokers The number of people under the age of ;0 who die from smoking-related diseases e*ceeds the total figure for deaths caused by breast cancer$ .%7)$ traffic accidents and drug addiction :on-smokers and e*-smokers can also look forward to a healthier old age than smokers "a5or diseases caused by smoking #ardiovascular disease #ardiovascular disease is the main cause of death due to

smoking 'ardening of the arteries is a process that develops over years$ when cholesterol and other fats deposit in the arteries$ leaving them narrow$ blocked or rigid When the arteries narrow ?atherosclerosis@$ blood clots are likely to form )moking accelerates the hardening and narrowing process in your arteries: it starts earlier and blood clots are two to four times more likely #ardiovasular disease can take many forms depending on which blood vessels are involved$ and all of them are more common in people who smoke . fatal disease !lood clots in the heart and brain are the most common causes of sudden death #oronary thrombosis: a blood clot in the arteries supplying the heart$ which can lead to a heart attack .round 20 per cent are caused by smoking #erebral thrombosis: the vessels to the brain can become blocked$ which can lead to collapse$ stroke and paralysis 7amage to the brain+s blood supply is also an important cause of dementia %f the kidney arteries are affected$ then high blood pressure or kidney failure results !lockage to the vascular supply to the legs may lead to gangrene and amputation )mokers tend to develop coronary thrombosis 10 years earlier than non-smokers$ and make up > out of 10 heart bypass patients

#ancer )mokers are more likely to get cancer than non-smokers This is particularly true of lung cancer$ throat cancer and mouth cancer$ which hardly ever affect non-smokers The link between smoking and lung cancer is clear :inety percent of lung cancer cases are due to smoking %f no-one smoked$ lung cancer would be a rare diagnosis I only 0 6 per cent of people who+ve never touched a cigarette develop lung cancer 1ne in ten moderate smokers and almost one in five heavy smokers ?more than 16 cigarettes a day@ will die of lung cancer The more cigarettes you smoke in a day$ and the longer you+ve smoked$ the higher your risk of lung cancer )imilarly$ the risk rises the deeper you inhale and the earlier in life you started smoking (or e*-smokers$ it takes appro*imately 16 years before the risk of lung cancer drops to the same as that of a nonsmoker %f you smoke$ the risk of contracting mouth cancer is four times higher than for a non-smoker #ancer can start in many areas of the mouth$ with the most common being on or underneath the tongue$ or on the lips 1ther types of cancer that are more common in smokers are: bladder cancer cancer of the oesophagus cancer of the kidneys

cancer of the pancreas cervical cancer #1=7 #hronic obstructive pulmonary disease ?#1=7@ is a collective term for a group of conditions that block airflow and make breathing more difficult$ such as: Term watch #hronic means long term$ not severe emphysema I breathlessness caused by damage to the air sacs ?alveoli@ chronic bronchitis I coughing with a lot of mucus that continues for at least three months )moking is the most common cause of #1=7 and is responsible for <0 per cent of cases %t+s estimated that >3 per cent of 00-a-day smokers have some emphysema when the lungs are e*amined after death$ while more than >0 per cent of non-smokers have little or none #1=7 typically starts between the ages of 26 and 36 when lung function starts to decline anyway Guitting can help Jung damage from #1=7 is permanent$ but giving up smoking at any stage reduces the rate of decline in lung capacity %n smokers$ the rate of decline in lung function can be three times the usual rate .s lung function declines$ breathlessness begins

.s the condition progresses$ severe breathing problems can re,uire hospital care The final stage is death from slow and progressive breathlessness 1ther risks caused by smoking 7id you know? . single cigarette can reduce the blood supply to your skin for over an hour )moking raises blood pressure$ which can cause hypertension ?high blood pressure@ I a risk factor for heart attacks and stroke #ouples who smoke are more likely to have fertility problems than couples who are non-smokers )moking worsens asthma and counteracts asthma medication by worsening the inflammation of the airways that the medicine tries to ease The blood vessels in the eye are sensitive and can be easily damaged by smoke$ causing a bloodshot appearance and itchiness 'eavy smokers are twice as likely to get macular degeneration$ resulting in the gradual loss of eyesight )mokers run an increased risk of cataracts )mokers take 06 per cent more sick days year than nonsmokers )moking stains your teeth and gums )moking increases your risk of periodontal disease$ which causes swollen gums$ bad breath and teeth to fall out )moking causes an acid taste in the mouth and contributes

to the development of ulcers )moking also affects your looks: smokers have paler skin and more wrinkles This is because smoking reduces the blood supply to the skin and lowers levels of vitamin .