Smoking and Teens: Breaking the Unhealthy Bond

Smoking and teens are a concerning combination, especially since it is a behavior that most people pick up at home.

Studies conducted in 2015 discovered that 13 percent of adolescents whose parents never smoked reported smoking at least one cigarette, whereas 38 percent of teens with parents dependent on nicotine had taken at least one puff themselves.

But that’s only the beginning. This blog explores the factors driving adolescent smoking, including the influence of peer and family pressure. It offers practical strategies for assisting teens to quit smoking and embrace healthier lifestyles.

Factors Fueling Teenage Smoking

Most adult smokers initiated their habit before turning 18, and numerous individuals were already addicted before completing high school. Hence, the question arises: What prompts young individuals to take up smoking initially?

According to Tobacco Control reports, there are four psychosocial factors related to adolescent smoking:

1) Sociodemographic

The summarized factors encompassed age, gender, ethnicity, acculturation, living arrangements, family size, family structure, parental socioeconomic status (SES), financial resources, employment status, and the distinction between rural and urban residence. To illustrate, adolescent smoking has been linked to personal income, with young individuals with greater spending power exhibiting elevated smoking rates. Additional data can be found within the report.

2) Environmental factors

Environmental factors contributing to adolescents initiating and maintaining smoking have been extensively studied since early studies revealed the significance of peer and parental smoking as risk factors.

Research on such environmental influences includes smoking among parents, siblings, and peers; attitudes and norms surrounding smoking (including parental responses to their children smoking); family environment considerations; and attachment to family and friends.

Furthermore, access and ease of acquiring cigarettes are other environmental elements that could influence adolescents’ smoking habits.

3) Behavioral factors

Three primary categories of behavioral variables emerged.

• The first category pertained to school-related factors, primarily focusing on academic performance and aspirations.
• The second category encompassed risk-taking or deviant behaviors, such as involvement in violence or gang membership.
• The third related category comprised lifestyle factors, encompassing aspects like diet, exercise, sleep patterns, and dental care.

Behaviors linked to sexual activity, seatbelt usage, and alcohol and substance consumption serve as lifestyle indicators but can also be characterized as risk-taking behaviors.

4) Personal factors

Stress and associated distress or depression are critical influences in initiating smoking habits. It has long been recognized that life changes or stressors have a detrimental effect on emotional well-being, leading to psychological distress in some instances.

Nicotine possesses a dual nature, acting as both a stimulant and a depressant. Initially, it elevates heart rates and enhances alertness. However, it eventually transitions into a depressant, inducing fatigue and depression.

This shift is often accompanied by drug withdrawal symptoms, compounding feelings of fatigue and depression, which can prompt many smokers to seek another dose of nicotine to regain vitality. Some experts liken the addictive potential of nicotine in tobacco to that of cocaine or heroin.

Effective methods to help teens quit smoking

Quitting smoking is no easy task. However, there are some strategies you can implement to help your teen to kick their habit and live a longer, healthier life. 

1) Be your teen’s role model.

Smoking may be glorified in films, television shows, and online, yet parents remain the most influential forces in their children’s lives. So, if you’re a parent and a smoker, the best thing you can do for your children is to quit smoking. It is one of many things you can do to show love to your teen.

Discuss how difficult it has been and how much simpler life would have been without having ever started in the first place. If your teen has already begun to smoke, showing them the difficulty of quitting but the fact that it is possible can inspire them to follow suit. 

2) Open discussion

Openly and straightforwardly communicate with your teen about your desire for them to refrain from smoking cigarettes, using e-cigarettes (commonly known as “vaping” and “juuling”), or engaging with any form of tobacco product. Provide them with unambiguous, consistent information regarding the hazards associated with these items.

Ensure they know the various nicotine-containing products, and encourage them to seek clarification if they have any uncertainties.

3) Broaden their perspective.

The tobacco industry spends billions annually to ensure its products are as appealing and addictive as possible. It includes aggressively marketing e-cigarettes to youth via advertisements glamorizing use and offering sweet, candy-like flavors like bubble gum for sale. In 2021, most high school students (80.2%) and middle school students (74.6%) who used tobacco products in the last 30 days said they used flavored ones.

As you discuss their involvement, ask your teen how tobacco companies have targeted, manipulated, and used them, realizing this may make many teenage smokers angry and help them quit altogether.

4) Avoid judgment.

If your teen is smoking or vaping, avoid using threats and ultimatums as the first response. Instead, pose questions to discover why they might be smoking; perhaps peer acceptance or wanting your attention are contributing factors. Discuss ways changes can be implemented into their lives that would assist with helping them stop.

Take Action Now

Quitting smoking is hard enough, but abruptly discontinuing it is even more challenging. 

However, it’s all about making a concerted effort and seeking support from friends, family, or professional resources to increase your teen’s chances of success in achieving a smoke-free life.

Your teen should feel proud that they want to quit smoking; that is the crucial element. Encouragement will go a long way toward helping them achieve lasting change, even if they relapse into smoking again. 

Remember to congratulate them for having attempted, remind them why they wanted to kick the habit, and know it may take multiple attempts until success occurs.

If you feel isolated or uncertain about how best to help your teen quit smoking, remember that HelpYourTeenNow can provide support and advice as you work toward creating a smoke-free future for them. Many local and national organizations, such as the American Lung Association, can support your teen in their journey to stop smoking.