The Kids Health Website states that around 9 out of 10 people who abuse tobacco started when they were teenagers. The National Institute for Drug Abuse states that in its Monitoring the Future Survey, 20 percent of high school seniors, 13 percent of sophomores and 6.5 percent of eighth grade students smoke. Smoking is against the law for teens in most public places and poses an array of unhealthy side effects.
Starting
The Health and Human Services website states that there are several reasons why teens start smoking. The biggest reason is peer pressure. Being around friends who smoke increases a teen's risk of taking that first puff and becoming addicted. Many schools educate children and young teenagers about the risks involved with smoking cigarettes but some teenagers still cave in to peer pressure. Some kids see it as a way to fit into certain crowds or as a way to impress their friends. Because the legal age to buy cigarettes in most states is 18, many teens have to ask older teens or adults to buy cigarettes for them. This can pose a legal risk for both the teen and the person buying the cigarettes. The Health Policy Guide website states penalties range from a written warning to fines up to $2,500.
Ingredients
Cigarettes contain a variety of harmful substances that pose both immediate and long-term health risks, explains the woman's health website. Some of these substances include nicotine, formaldehyde, cyanide, tar, ammonia, acetone and benzene. Aside of being used in cigarettes, these ingredients are also found in other items, many that we like to avoid being around or inhaling. Formaldehyde is a type of chemical used to preserve a corpse and is part of the human embalming process. Cyanide is used as one of the ingredients to make mouse and rat poison. Benzene is one of the many compounds found in gasoline. Ammonia is a strong and potent disinfectant used to kill germs.
Initial Symptoms
A first-time smoker may experience a strong headache or head rush when she inhales a cigarette. Some smokers also report feeling lightheaded and nauseated as their bodies are introduced to the chemicals in the cigarette. The smell of cigarette smoke can easily be identified by others and can stick to hair and clothing until it is washed out.
Long Term Health Problems
Kids smoke for a variety of reasons but do not always think about the long-term consequences of getting hooked on cigarettes. Long term, cigarettes can lead to a chronic cough, shortness of breath, decrease in sense of smell and taste, increased production of wrinkles and the risk of developing breathing disorders, heart disease and lung cancer.
Breaking the Habit
Unfortunately, breaking the habit can be difficult for teens because of the side effects the lasting chemicals leave in the body. Nicotine which is found in cigarettes has crushing withdrawal effects. Medline Plus states that some of these symptoms include a very intense craving for nicotine, severe headaches, anxiety, restlessness, irritability, increase in appetite and difficulty concentrating. In order to break the habit, teens will have to use a variety of things to fight off the cravings. Nicotine gum or patches, allow the teen to wean off of nicotine and provide better results as opposed to suddenly stopping.
