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Facts & Myths About Smoking for Kids

Smoking can lead to a variety of health problems, from breathing difficulty to lung cancer, which affect both the smoker and those exposed to smoke. Despite this, the website Kids Health estimates that 3,900 kids between the ages of 12 and 17 start smoking every day. An understanding of some common facts and myths about smoking may help kids resist the pressure to smoke or quit if they have already started.

  1. Fact: Smoking Can Make it Harder to Do Things You Enjoy

    • The nicotine in cigarettes constricts blood vessels, making it harder for blood to move around in the body and leaving smokers tired and cranky, according to Kids Health. Smoking also causes damage to the lungs and heart, which make it more difficult to run or play sports. The body begins to repair this damage as soon as you quit smoking, WebMD explains.

    Myth: It Takes a Long Time to Get Addicted

    • Some kids become addicted right away, says Kids Health. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance that affects the body's central nervous system almost as soon as it is ingested, explains the website The Anti-Drug. First, nicotine triggers the release of epinephrine, resulting in stimulation. The feeling of stimulation wears off quickly, which may cause kids to smoke again to repeat the stimulation.

    Fact: Smoking Doesn't Always Feel Good

    • According to Kids Health, the body is programmed to reject smoking. For this reason, smoking usually feels bad at first. Smoking may cause coughing, pain or burning in the throat or lungs, and possibly nausea and vomiting.

    Myth: Smoking Only Affects the Smoker

    • Non-smokers can be affected by secondhand smoke, or the smoke from lit cigarettes. Secondhand smoke may still lead to lung cancer, heart disease and increased respiratory problems such as coughing, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens. In infants and young children, secondhand smoke can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, respiratory infections, asthma and ear infections, the NIDA says.

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