Every day, nearly 4,000 teenagers between ages 12 and 17 smoke their first cigarette, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Approximately 1,000 of those teens will become daily cigarette smokers. Preventing teens from smoking can further prevent them from developing future health problems, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, infertility and other risks.
Anti-Smoking Role Models
Teenagers can sometimes act as if their parents do not have any influence over them, but parents can actually be strong anti-smoking role models. According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, having restrictions about smoking inside the house or always sitting in a nonsmoking section of a restaurant can help reduce a child's likelihood of smoking.
Additionally, parents can be role models simply by not smoking. Those who have parents who smoke are more likely to pick up cigarettes, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. If you already smoke, let your teen know how difficult it is to quit so they see the struggle that smoking causes.
Finally, make your home smoke-free. If you have any friends or family members that smoke, send them outside to light up. Letting them smoke inside the house can imply to your teenager that you accept or approve of cigarette smoking.
Informing Teens
Educating your teen about the facts of smoking can be enough to sway them to leading a smoke-free life. Many teenagers think that smoking during their younger years will not have any effect on their health, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. If they know that an immediate effect of cigarette smoking could make them feel sick or nauseated, they might rethink their choice. Girls might also be particularly sensitive to the idea that smoking can cause yellow teeth and premature wrinkles, according to KidsHealth. Boys could be interested in how smoking can decrease their athletic performance.
Local Laws
Local laws can jointly reduce smoking in your community and decrease teen smoking. Support laws that restrict cigarette marketing to children and teens, which can influence them to start buying cigarettes. A 2010 study at the Stanford Prevention Research Center found regular exposure to cigarette advertising at retail stores, known as "point-of-sale advertising" nearly doubles the likelihood teens will begin smoking.
You can also support state and federal programs that prevent or reduce cigarette smoking among youth. Examples of this include higher taxes on cigarettes, which reduce teen smoking rates, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, and educational programs to reduce teen smoking.
