Children's addiction to nicotine from cigarette smoking, smokeless tobacco (chew), and cigars is a major public health problem.

The Facts about teen smoking:

• Nearly 3 million U.S. teenagers smoke.
• Approximately 3,000 teenagers start smoking every day and one-third of them will die prematurely of a smoking related disease (American Cancer Society).
• High school students who smoke cigarettes are more likely to take risks such as ignoring seat belts, getting into physical fights, carrying weapons, and having sex at an earlier age.
• Tobacco is considered to be a "gateway drug" which may lead to alcohol, marijuana, and other illegal drug use.
• Most adult smokers started smoking before the age of 18.
• Tobacco use continues to be the most common cause of preventable disease and death in the United States.
• Cigarette smoking and tobacco use are associated with many forms of cancer.
• Smoking is the main cause of lung and heart disease.
• Smoking worsens existing medical problems, such as asthma, high blood pressure and diabetes.
• The earlier a person starts smoking, the greater the risk to his or her health and the harder it is to quit.

• have parents, siblings, or friends who smoke
• exhibit characteristics such as toughness and acting grown up
• deny the harmful effects of tobacco
• have fewer coping skills and smoke to alleviate stress
• have poor self esteem and depression
• have poor academic performance, especially girls
• are very influenced by advertisements that relate cigarette smoking to being thin and/or suffer from eating disorders

• Parents are role models. If you smoke, quit. If you have not quit, do not smoke in front of your children and tell them you regret that you started.
• Do not allow smoking in your home and strictly enforce your No Smoking rule.
• Ask whether tobacco is discussed in school.
• Ask about tobacco use by friends; compliment children who do not smoke.
• Do not allow your children to handle smoking materials.
• Do not allow your children to play with candy cigarettes. They are symbols of real cigarettes, and young children who use them may be more likely to smoke.
• Support school and community anti-smoking efforts and tell school officials you expect them to enforce no smoking policies.
• Make tobacco less readily available to children and teens—support higher taxes on tobacco, licensing of vendors, and bans on unattended vending machines.
• Discuss with your children the false and misleading images used in advertising and movies which portray smoking as glamorous, healthy, sexy, and mature.
• Emphasize the short-term negative effects such as bad breath, yellowed fingers, smelly clothes, shortness of breath, and decreased performance in sports.
• Emphasize that nicotine is addictive.
• Help children to say "No" to tobacco by role playing situations in which tobacco is offered by peers.

• Advise him/her to stop. Be non-confrontational, supportive, and respectful.
• Assist his/her efforts to quit and express your desire to help.
• Provide educational materials.
• Help your youngster identify personally relevant reasons to quit.
• If you smoke, agree to quit with your child and negotiate a quit date.
• Enlist the child's pediatrician or family physician to help the child stop smoking.
• If the child is abusing other drugs and/or alcohol or there are problems with mood or other disorders, evaluation by a child and adolescent psychiatrist or other mental health professional may be indicated.

For more information see Facts for Families #2 "Teenagers with Eating Disorders," #3 "Teens: Alcohol and Other Drugs," #4 "The Depressed Child," #6 "Children Who Can't Pay Attention," #33 "Conduct Disorders," and #66 "Managing Stress."

Article #68 Updated 4/99

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