According to the American Cancer Society, each day about 3,500 people under the age of 18 try their first cigarette, while an additional 1,100 become regular smokers. The earlier smoking tobacco starts, the more likely it is to cause health problems, says the National Institutes of Health.
Smoking tobacco harms nearly every major organ system in the body, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Smoking affects teens' still-developing organ systems and leads to other problems particular to this age group.
Respiratory Effects
Poor lung development, worse overall health and reduced physical fitness are seen in teens that smoke, according to the ACS. Other respiratory problems seen in teen smokers are cough, production of phlegm, breathlessness, frequent respiratory system infections and, with persistent use, bronchitis or emphysema. Smoking also worsens pre-existing medical conditions like asthma and cystic fibrosis.
Nicotine Addiction and Other Psychological Effects
According to the ACS, the younger a smoker is when she starts smoking, the more likely she is to become an adult smoker. This is because nicotine, the active compound in tobacco, is highly addictive, making it very difficult to stop smoking, particularly when started at a young age. According to the NIH, people who start smoking before the age of 21 have the hardest time quitting.
Teens who smoke are also more likely to use alcohol and illegal drugs, says the NIH. According to the ACS, they are also more likely to get into fights, carry weapons, commit suicide and suffer from mental health problems like anxiety and depression. Teen smokers are also more likely to engage in high risk sexual activity, with the attendant risks of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases as well as teenage pregnancy.
Other Health Effects
Teens develop vision problems such as macular degeneration and cataracts long-term smoking. Gum disease, tooth loss and hearing loss are also more likely among teens who smoke, according to the ACS. Smokers also lose their sense of smell and taste, says NIDA.
Early heart disease and stroke, according to the ACS, is seen in teens who smoke. They are also at increased risk for cancers arising from exposure to tobacco smoke, including lung cancer, cancers in the esophagus, head, neck, kidney, bladder, ureter, pancreas and stomach. About one-third of teen smokers will die prematurely, says the ACS, from smoking related illnesses.
Nonsmokers who are constantly exposed to second-hand smoke from the teens who smoke are at increased risk of the same physical health problems as the smokers. According to the NIDA, heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory problems are all increased in nonsmokers who consistently inhale second-hand smoke. Dropped cigarettes, says the NIDA, is a leading cause of death from house fires in the U.S.
References
- American Cancer Society: Understanding the problem: Child and Teen Tobacco Use
- National Institutes of Health/MedlinePlus: Smoking and Youth
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Tobacco Addiction: What Are the Medical Consequences of Tobacco Use?
- NIDA for Teens: Tobacco Addiction: How Does Tobacco Deliver Its Effects?
