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Teen smoking. 

Smoking amongst teens.

 It is very strange and perplexing that so many young people are taking up smoking, despite the number of health warnings that there are. It has become a serious problem, especially in the case of young girls, who are increasingly joining the ranks of smokers. Teen smoking is on the rise and the long-term health risks are a worry.

Health Risk of Smoking. 

In addition to the smoking habit, their health is further threatened by a 'sedentary lifestyle' and often a poor diet. The situation regarding their future health is then like a 'ticking bomb' waiting to go off. We must show them the benefits of stopping smoking.

Why aren't the well publicised health warnings working on the young? It's harder to persuade a young person not to smoke if adults around them, including parents, indulge in the habit themselves.

• Smoking is decreasing in the general population
• But teen smoking continues to be a problem.
• This is despite the ban on smoking in public places.
• The increased cost and the ban on tobacco advertising in some countries.

Pressure from others can be a cause of teen smoking.

Peer pressure has always been a factor in these matters and teenagers look to their friends for approval. It's hard to be the only one to say no. There must be a way of making smoking an 'uncool' thing to do.

This is difficult in the current atmosphere of smokers being perceived as anti-social. It is a fact that being anti-social is a great attraction the young, in the first place. Perhaps some celebrities, such as rock stars and rap singers, could launch an anti teen smoking campaign.

An anti teen smoking campaign by 'teen idols'.

This would be worth more than a thousand sermons from the government or the health Authorities.

Teens feel 'imortal' and smoking just doesn't seem to be a risk.

Tough tactics have to be employed in this war of persuasion. The facts should speak for themselves but it's hard to get a young person's attention by telling them that their lungs will stop functioning in twenty years time. That, to them, seems like a lifetime away.

Remind them about the smell of cigarette smoke.

It's far better to concentrate on the 'here and now' and to emphasize that their clothes 'stink' of cigarette smoke, their teeth and fingers are stained and their breath smells.

If it threatens 'teen love prospects' smoking would soon cease. 

Teen smoking could stop if they think that they're not going to get a girlfriend / boyfriend because of it. There isn't enough effort being put into this campaign problem, compared with other initiatives involving recreational drug use and alcohol abuse.

Remember always 'nicotine', delivered by a cigarette, is a 'Highly Addictive Drug'!

Cigarettes, or at least nicotine is a 'drug' and must be treated as such. Teen smoking is every bit as important and on a huge scale. It will take courage on the part of young smokers too. They need the help of us all; government, health care providers, schools, friends and families. Tobacco and nicotine in the form of cigarettes are an evil we must help our teens, to overcome.

Convince teens that NOT smoking is Cool!

We must convince our young people of the error of their ways in embracing the evils of nicotine addiction. The problem is we must get our message over in such a way as to not seem we are preaching and overpowering them, our smoking cessation message must be subtle and clever.

Get teens to listen to this cool 'Audio Book' in their MP3 or I pod.

Take a look at the very good 'audio book', called "break the smoking habit" and give a young person something more beneficial, other than just music, to listen to in their  i-pod,, or MP3 player.