Why Is it Important to Educate Children About Smoking?
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Significance
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According to the Centers for Disease Control, tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of death in the U.S. More people die each year from tobacco than by all deaths from HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides and murders combined. The American Cancer Society reports that about half of all Americans who keep smoking will die because of the habit and that tobacco use kills about 443,600 people in the U.S. each year.
Tobacco Facts
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Cigarettes and other tobacco products are made from dried tobacco leaves, along with other ingredients. According to the American Cancer Society, tobacco and its smoke contain more than 4,000 different chemicals. At least 60 of those chemicals are known to cause cancer (carcinogens).
Nicotine addiction is the driving force in developing the smoking habit. Nicotine is physically addictive and can be more addictive than heroin. The American Cancer Society says that at some point, 70 percent of smokers want to quit, and 40 percent try to quit. Without help less than 8 percent are successful. Children may think that they will just try it once, either giving in to peer pressure or out of curiosity, only to find that they want more. It's important that they understand how addictive smoking is.
Health Issues
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Smoking causes a wide range of serious health problems such as cancer, heart disease and stroke. Bone thinning is one of the less obvious problems caused by smoking. This is particularly disturbing in children whose bones are still being formed. Gum disease caused by smoking can eventually lead to the loss of teeth. Smoking can also interfere with blood flow in the arms and legs. In extreme cases, blood flow is so diminished that tissue dies and can result in amputation of a foot or leg.
Children can have a hard time being concerned about a disease that may take many years to develop and teens often have the attitude that "it can't happen to me." Instead of talking about diseases that younger children may not grasp, it may be better to explain to them that smoking makes it hard to breathe and makes them feel too bad to play and do activities they enjoy. Over time, this can result in them having to go to the hospital. Smoking also makes their clothes stink and can make their teeth and nails yellow.
Financial Costs
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At about $4 a pack in 2010, the cost of a pack-a-day habit can easily be calculated. In one year, that's $1460. For kids, that money would buy a lot of video games, clothes, CDs and other typical purchases. Older kids can understand that smokers have to pay more money for health insurance and pay higher medical bills over time. Younger kids can understand that for a smoker, the new video game they want might be represented by a week or so of smoking. Teach the money association at an early age.
Preventing Smoking in Children
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Set a good example by not smoking. If you do smoke, explain why you want to quit and how you plan to do it. You will most likely have several relapses before you are truly smoke-free, so seeing your struggle can drive home the point about how hard it is to quit. Tell your kids about how second-hand smoke is also bad for their health. Talk to them in terms they can understand about health problems caused by smoking. Showing them a picture of a lung black with disease can also have an impact.
Tips for Talking to Your Kids
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Talk with your kids about the dangers of smoking. Let them know you want to help them protect their health. Open communication from an early age makes children less likely to try to hide their smoking from you. Let them know that you don't want them to smoke, but if they do that they can come to you for help, not lectures. If you're a former smoker, share your experience of how long it took you to quit or how hard it was. Encourage them to have nonsmoking friends--hanging around with smokers makes them more likely to try smoking.
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