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Facts & Statistics of Teenage Smoking

More and more teenagers start smoking each day. What starts out as something new and exciting can turn into a deadly habit. It is important for teens to know that smoking at a young age can have a negative effect on their entire lives.

  1. New Smokers

    • An estimated 3,000 teens smoke their first cigarette each day, 1,000 of whom will die from tobacco-related causes.

    Lungs

    • The lungs of teens who smoke will not develop fully, which puts them at higher risk for lung disease.

    U.S. Percentage

    • In the United States, about 20 percent of teens consider themselves to be regular smokers.

    Habit Forming

    • Roughly 75 percent of teen smokers will continue smoking into their adult lives.

    Physical Fitness

    • Teens who smoke have poor physical fitness compared to teens who do not. This puts them at risk for obesity, which can lead to several diseases.

    Peer Pressure

    • A teenager is 13 times more likely to start smoking if he has friends who smoke.

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