Teen Smoking
Ask our expert how to discourage your child from lighting up
- With all the information available on the dangers of tobacco use, is it still a problem among teenagers?
- Does smoking have the same effect on children as it does on adults?
- Is it just as easy for children to become addicted to tobacco?
- Are light cigarettes or chewing (spit) tobacco a safe substitute for regular cigarettes?
- How can I prevent my children from smoking?
- Are there programs available to help children quit using tobacco?
Q: With all the information available on the dangers of tobacco use, is it still a problem among teenagers?
A: Yes. Although the number of teenage smokers is decreasing, the statistics are still startling. Every day, more than 4,000 children under the age of 18 try their first cigarette. More than 1,000 of them become daily smokers. Approximately 22 percent of high school students in the U.S. smoke. And more than 6 million children alive today will die of a tobacco-related illness.
Q: Does smoking have the same effect on children as it does on adults?
A: Yes. Early signs of heart disease and stroke can be found in adolescents who smoke. Smoking at an early age increases the risk of lung cancer. The lung damage caused by smoking reduces the amount of oxygen available for muscles used during sports. That means children who smoke run slower and can’t run as far as those who don’t smoke. Teenage smokers suffer from shortness of breath almost three times as often, and produce phlegm more than twice as often as teens who don’t smoke.
Q: Is it just as easy for children to become addicted to tobacco?
A: Yes. The nicotine in cigarettes is an extremely addictive drug. In fact, the younger someone starts smoking, the more likely he is to become a heavy smoker as an adult and smoke longer. And the more you smoke, the harder it is to quit. What’s worse—teens who smoke are three times more likely than nonsmokers to use alcohol, eight times more likely to use marijuana, and 22 times more likely to use cocaine.
Q: Are light cigarettes or chewing (spit) tobacco a safe substitute for regular cigarettes?
A: No. “Light or low-tar” cigarettes are just as harmful and addictive as regular brands. Spit tobacco is dangerous, too. In fact, you ingest even more nicotine using spit tobacco, making it even more difficult to quit. Spit tobacco causes dental problems, periodontal disease and cancer of the mouth – one of the most difficult cancers to treat. Even short-term use of spit tobacco can cause cracked lips, white spots, sores and bleeding in the mouth. Plus, all forms of tobacco stain your teeth and cause bad breath.
Q: How can I prevent my children from smoking?
A: Parents are the greatest influence in their children’s lives. Stay connected and talk directly to your children about the risks of tobacco use. Start early—when your kids are five years old—and continue through their high school years. Be honest. If friends and relatives died from a tobacco-related illness, don’t hide it. Let your children know.
If you use tobacco, try to quit by seeking help. Don’t do it alone. Meanwhile, don’t use tobacco in front of your children, and don’t leave it where they can easily get it. Know if your children’s friends use tobacco. Talk about ways to refuse tobacco and false glamorization of tobacco in TV, movies, magazines and billboards.
Q: Are there programs available to help children quit using tobacco?
A: Yes. Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Tobacco Treatment Program helps people of all ages quit for good. You’ll talk with a counselor either face-to-face or over the phone. It’s a confidential service. Only you and your counselor will know you are trying to stop using tobacco. Your counselor will develop a personalized plan to help you stop using tobacco and will provide you with support throughout the quitting process. Nicotine replacement products are also available through the program. To make an appointment, call 610-402-CARE.
This page last updated 1/6/09 11:09 PM
