Although most teens are aware of the health risks of smoking, they continue to smoke cigarettes and use other forms of tobacco. Some teens may start smoking because their social circle passes around cigarettes, while others may do it to seem edgier or because they want to show their parents that they can make their own decisions. Whether you're considering smoking or you are thinking about quitting, reading some facts about teens and smoking will help you make a more informed decision.
Truth in Numbers
About 90 percent of adult smokers started smoking when they were kids, according to KidsHealth from Nemours. People who start smoking before they turn 21 have the hardest time quitting the habit, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Every day, over 3,500 teens try their first cigarette, another 1,100 teens become daily smokers and a third of these teens will die early from a smoking-related disease, according to the American Cancer Society.
Cigarette Ingredients
Cigarette smoke contains around 4,000 chemicals, many of which are bad for your body. Some of the most dangerous chemicals in cigarettes are butane, which is lighter fluid; arsenic, which is used in rat poison; methane, which is an element in rocket fuel; formaldehyde, which is used to preserve dead body tissue; ammonia, which is found in floor cleaner; hydrogen cyanide, which is poison used in gas chambers, and nicotine, a deadly poison, according to the Center for Young Women's Health out of the Children's Hospital Boston.
Health Effects
Smoking is the leading cause of avoidable deaths within the United States, according to KidsHealth from Nemours. The chemicals in cigarettes can cause heart disease, heart attacks, bronchitis, emphysema, hearing loss, vision loss, arthritis, wrinkles, chronic cough, decreased athletic performance, ulcers, liver damage, tooth decay and decreased circulation, according to PBS Kids. Cigarette smoking also increases risk of cancers of the lung, throat, mouth, kidney, bladder, cervix and pancreas, according to the National Cancer Society.
Behavioral Effects
Teens who smoke are more likely to carry weapons, get into fights, suffer from depression, engage in high-risk sexual behaviors and attempt suicide, according to the American Cancer Society. Young smokers are also more likely to try marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other illicit drugs, says KidsHealth from Nemours.
Addiction
Teens can become addicted to smoking within weeks of their first cigarette. This is because cigarettes contain a highly addictive drug known as nicotine, which is a stimulant. The more cigarettes a person smokes, the more his body craves it and becomes dependent upon it, says PBS Kids. The addiction can be sneaky, too. According to the American Cancer Society, only three out of 100 high school smokers think they will continue to be smoking in five years, but 60 of them will still be smoking seven to nine years down the line. Moreover, three out of four teens who smoke regularly have already tried quitting the habit but have failed.
