2015

The disadvantages of smoking for

children and teenagers

Miranda Nuraini
XI. MIA 7 / XII. MIA 7
8/31/2015
 The number of smokers in Indonesia continue to rise from year to year. Based on the
latest data from Basic Health Research, a total of 58.8 million Indonesians aged over ten years
smoked in 2013, more than ten times the population of neighbouring Singapore. In one year,
these smokers lit around 225 billion cigarettes making Indonesia the third-largest tobacco
consumer after China and India. More alarming, about four million of these Indonesian
smokers are children between the age of 10 to 14 years. Dr Boy Luwia, who heads a free
health clinic for low-income groups in Tangerang, says that smoking is a way of life in
Indonesia and that most patients never consider quitting until they get so sick they have to.
Many children and teenagers don’t think the risk that will be happen in the future if they are
smoking. They think that smoking is a sign of coolness, but in fact it just damages the health.
In my opinion, there are three disadvantages of smoking for many children and teenagers;
can make children and teenagers addicted to smoke; can waste much money; can damage
children and teenagers body.
First of all, smoking can make the children and teenagers addicted to smoke. Almost
everyone knows that smoking causes cancer, emphysema, and heart disease, and it can
shorten your life by 10 years or more. And Despite the warnings given by doctors about the
ill-effects of smoking, almost every children and teenagers continue to smoke. So, why they
are still smoking? The answer is obviously, addictive. Smoking is a hard habit to break because
tobacco contains nicotine, which is highly addicted. Like drugs, smoking can make many
children and teenagers body and mind quickly become so used to the nicotine in cigarettes
that they needs to have it just to feel normal. For example, teddy iswarita, twenty five years
old, who took his first puff at twelve years old and has smoked a pack a day ever since. She
said, she really want to stop smoking. She try to every day, but it's impossible, she said she
need it. Her doctor told her to imagine something positive instead, like candy, every time she
want a cigarette, but that didn't work. She said, all her friends smoke, her family smokes, the
whole city smokes. She figure she will be smoking until she die, and maybe that's why she will
die. Smokers are addicted to it, and even if they want to, they cannot refrain from picking up
a cigar or cigarette and puffing away.
The second, smoking can waste much money. One packet of twelve cigarettes costs
around Rp.15.000.00 and the price keeps rising. What could you do for yourself and your
family with that extra money? More than you think. At today’s prices, if you smoke half of
pack of cigarettes each day for one month, you will spend almost Rp.225000,00 and it easily
enough to buy a clothes. And after one year no smoking, you save money Rp.2700.000.00 and
with that money, you can get new hand phone. And after three years no smoking, you save
money Rp.8100.000.00 and with that money, you can get new tablet with good features. And
after six years no smoking, you save money 16.200.000.00, with that money, you can get new
motor bicycle. Children and teenagers must know, spending money on smoking is too much
and leads to nothing, and there are no benefits that children and teenagers can get from
smoking. Smoking hits personal finances hard, and smokers are burning their money for no
reason. In the contrary, with the big amount of money they can wasting money that could be
used for clothes, music or other items. Nowadays, smokers are spending more and more
money on smoking instead of supporting their lives or even helping others people. Because
of addicted to smoking, they have to spend more money for medical help.
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 Last but not least, smoking can damage children and teenagers body. If you start
smoking when you're in your teens, get ready for stained teeth, wrinkly skin and a one-in-two
chance of dying early. Over the long term, smoking leads people to develop health problems
like heart disease, stroke, emphysema (breakdown of lung tissue), and many types of cancer
— including lung, throat, stomach, and bladder cancer. People who smoke also have an
increased risk of infections like bronchitis and pneumonia. These diseases limit a person's
ability to be normally active, and they can be fatal. The consequences of smoking may seem
very far off, but long-term health problems aren't the only hazard of smoking. Nicotine and
the other toxins in cigarettes, cigars, and pipes can affect a person's body quickly, which
means that teen smokers experience many of these problems: the first, bad skin. Because
smoking can slow the flow of blood vessels, it can prevent oxygen and nutrients from getting
to the skin — which is why smokers often appear pale and unhealthy. Studies have also linked
smoking to an increased risk of getting a type of skin rash called psoriasis. The second, bad
breath. Cigarettes leave smokers with a condition called halitosis, or persistent bad breath.
The third, Bad-smelling clothes and hair. The smell of stale smoke tends to linger — not just
on people's clothing, but on their hair, furniture, and cars. And it's often hard to get the smell
of smoke out. The fourth, Reduced athletic performance. People who smoke usually can't
compete with non-smoking peers because the physical effects of smoking (like rapid
heartbeat, decreased circulation, and shortness of breath) impair sports performance. The
fifth, Greater risk of injury and slower healing time. Smoking affects the body's ability to
produce collagen, so common sports injuries, such as damage to tendons and ligaments, will
heal more slowly in smokers than non-smokers. The sixth, increased risk of illness. Studies
show that smokers get more colds, flu, bronchitis, and pneumonia than non-smokers. And
people with certain health conditions, like asthma, become more sick if they smoke (and often
if they're just around people who smoke). Because teens who smoke as a way to manage
weight often light up instead of eating, their bodies also lack the nutrients they need to grow,
develop, and fight off illness properly.

In conclusion, smoking can bring many disadvantages for children and teenagers, such
as can make children and teenagers addicted to smoke, can waste much money, can damage
children and teenagers body. Today we are more aware about how bad smoking is for our
health. The negative effects of smokes are cancer, emphysema, and heart disease, and it can
shorten your life by 10 years or more.

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