The Problem of Adolescent Smoking

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Reasons to smoke or not to smoke

Marketing of smoking

Short-term Effects of smoking

Long-term Effects of smoking

Prevention of smoking

Behavior Modifications for smokers

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Short-term Effects of Smoking

  "Deviant behavior in grade 7, poor grades, and weak bonds with middle school predicted violent behavior 5 years later.  Attending a middle school with comparatively high levels of cigarette and marijuana use was also linked with subsequent high levels of violence (Ellickson, McGuigan, 2000)."

  -The 1988 Surgeon General's report concluded that smoking among adolescents is a risk factor for use of alcohol and illegal drugs. The 1985 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse showed that 12- to 17-year-olds who smoked cigarettes in the previous 30 days were about three times more likely to have consumed alcohol, eight times more likely to have smoked marijuana, and 22 times more likely to have used cocaine in the past 30 days than adolescents who did not smoke cigarettes (American Heart Association).

 -Cigarette smoking causes significant health problems among children and adolescents including coughing, production of phlegm, more respiratory illnesses, decreased physical fitness, risk for cardiovascular disease, and decreased lung growth and function (American Lung Association).
 

-Adolescent tobacco users are more likely to use alcohol and illegal drugs than are nonusers. Cigarette smokers are also more likely to get into fights, carry weapons, attempt suicide, and engage in high-risk sexual behaviors (American Lung Association).

 -Another horrible effect cigarette smoking has on you, is that is darkens your teeth.  If that is not enough it also increases your chances of getting mouth and throat cancer (American Dental Association).

 -Smoking produces other such adverse effects, such as physiological and metabolic changes in adolescents who smoke (American Heart Association).

 -Most important, atherosclerosis, endothelial and epithelial injury, and altered lung function-the initiating pathophysiological events that lead to coronary artery disease, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-have been described in youths who use or are exposed to tobacco products (American Heart Association).

 -Increased platelet aggregation is also another effect of smoking especially in adolescents (American Heart Association).

Tobacco addiction can be destructive and it doesn't take long before it takes a toll on your behavior, health and how you will live your life.  Here is a story of a young boy whose addiction to tobacco ruined his life.  To increase the meaningfulness of this story note how little time it took for the tobacco to have it’s effects.  If you think that it won't happen to you, read his story, because he like you thought it would never happen to him.  His story is sad, but it can motivate you to change the habits you have before it's too late.

Sean's Story