Smoking in Adolescents

Although the number of teens who smoke has been falling since the late 1990s, smoking is still more popular among adolescents than among adults, and many teens also use smokeless tobacco. Young smokers are more likely to be adult smokers, according to the American Cancer Society. The first step to combating smoking is to understand it.

Statistics

• According to a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study in 2007, half of all high school students have tried smoking at least once. In 2008, a reported one in four minors over the age of 12 were current tobacco users. Every day, over 3,500 adolescents try their first cigarette, and another 1,100 become regular smokers. Of these, about one third will die from illnesses related to smoking. Three out of every four high school smokers have said that they have tried to quit and have failed.

Effects

• Teens who smoke experience problems quickly, including shortness of breath, respiratory illness, headaches, coughing and excess mucus. Smoking can also worsen symptoms when teens catch the flu or a cold, and it can cause the lungs to grow poorly, which is a major concern for teens who are still growing and developing. Teens who continue to smoke experience even more serious health problems over time, like hearing loss, lung disease, tooth decay, vision problems and heart disease.

Prevention/Solution

• Schools in the United States have banned smoking by staff, students and visitors to help discourage smoking in adolescents, but this has led to tobacco companies promoting smokeless products instead, which still pose health risks. The FDA has approved other ways to stop smoking, including anti-depressants, nicotine replacements like gum and patches, behavior therapy and drugs that block nicotine receptors, but the American Cancer Society suggests that one of the best solutions to the teen smoking problem is for parents to get involved and actively working to keep kids from ever starting.

Causes

• Teens start smoking for a number of reasons. Some studies suggest that they are more likely to smoke if their parents smoke, and lack of involvement or support from parents can also be contributing factors. Teens also start smoking because they have low self-esteem or want approval from peers. Low socioeconomic status and availability of cigarettes can be contributing factors as well.

Disadvantages

• In addition to health risks, smoking creates other problems in adolescents. Smoking can cause bad breath and stinky clothing and hair, which contributes to problems with peers. It is also an expensive habit, as smoking a pack a day can cost $1,000 per year or more. According to the American Cancer Society, smoking can also lead to other risky behavior, and has been associated with drug use, drinking alcohol, risky sexual activity, fighting, carrying weapons and other problems.