The majority of adult smokers began a habit of cigarette smoking when they were young, setting themselves up for a lifetime of health problems and other ill effects. The advice to minors, "If you don't smoke, don't start," isn't just another way to control their exploratory inclinations; it's meant to demonstrate how to make healthy choices in life. Because the nicotine in tobacco is mentally and physically addictive, and because cigarettes are expensive, many aspects of teenagers' lives depend on the choices they make regarding tobacco use.
Legal Repercussions
Cigarette smoking begins with buying cigarettes. Attempting to purchase them illegally places store owners and clerks in jeopardy in all 50 U.S. states. An adult who buys for teens is similarly at risk for legal penalty.
Acquiring and using fake I.D. in order to buy cigarettes is a serious offense. The American Cancer Society notes that many local jurisdictions also penalize minors for tobacco use, in some cases suspending their driver's licenses.
Nicotine Dependence
Addiction to nicotine can occur at any age, but minors who smoke will have the most difficult time quitting the habit, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Just a few episodes of smoking cigarettes can create a dependency, as the body quickly develops a tolerance for nicotine and craves more of it.
Becoming dependent on cigarettes not only makes chronic and fatal health problems more likely, it makes tobacco use the priority in life. Teenagers with big plans may find them taking a backseat to the need to acquire the products and places to smoke.
Social Consequences
Four-fifths of the high school and adult populations are nonsmokers who don't share a priority for tobacco use. Many sports and group activities remain closed to teens who smoke.
The lack of social acceptance of tobacco may also be reflected in personal relationships. The Nemours Foundation notes that smoking cigarettes can end or prevent new friendships when other teens and adults just say no to hanging out in an atmosphere of secondhand smoke.
Short-Term Health Problems
Minors experience immediate physical effects of cigarette smoking, including elevated heart rate and respiratory system irritation. The Nemours Foundation reports that minors who smoke get more colds, the flu, bronchitis and pneumonia than those who don't, keeping them home from school, work, sports and other events.
Long-Term Health Prognosis
Because cigarette smoking at an early age creates strong nicotine addiction, most minors will continue smoking into their adult years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists health problems that include heart disease, emphysema and lung cancer as possible likely outcomes from long-term smoking.
