Teen Smoking

It is very likely that sometime during adolescence your child may be in a situation where another student will encourage him/her to try a cigarette. Many adult smokers report first trying cigarettes when they were in junior high school. This page has been created to help parents address this issue. The information has been taken from Right Decisions - Right Now, How to talk to your child about not smoking. Most of this information is also available through the links below. Why do kids smoke? 1. Peer Pressure - The desire to fit in is very strong in adolescence. Refusal to smoke may carry the risk of being teased, taunted or ostracized. Depending on the person's level of self-confidence, this type of pressure is sometimes very hard to resist. 2. Desire to Appear More Mature - Some students start smoking because they think it makes them appear older. Others start smoking as a way to demonstrate independence or defiance, because they know they shouldn't smoke. 3. Family Factors - Studies show that children of a parent or parents who smoke may be more likely to smoke themselves. These findings underscore the importance of your active involvement in guiding and counseling your children. What Should You Say or Do? Communicate - Ask questions and Listen. 1. Underage Smoking is Illegal - In Downers Grove it is a Village Ordinance which carries with it a $75 fine. 2. Smoking Poses Major Health Risks. This will not be news to your teen. They know that smoking is bad for them. Here are a few things to focus on. • Smokers have almost twice the risk of having coronary heart disease as non-smokers. • Smokers' risk of getting lung cancer is approximately 14 times that of non-smokers. • Smokers' risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis is approximately 10 times that of non-smokers. 3. Discuss the Power of Peer Influence - Here are some possible discussion points. • Ask your child about his/her tastes in music, clothing, etc. Ask how these tastes were developed. "What kind of influence has there peers had on these tastes?" • Reassure your child that there is nothing wrong with the desire to fit in with a group of peers. Peer influence only becomes negative when, in our desire to fit in, we do something that we know deep down we shouldn't. • Ask - "Why do you think teens try smoking?" "Do you think they think they look cool?" 4. Help Your Child Resist Peer Pressure. Here are some suggestions to give your child. • Point out possible repercussions - "We could get arrested." • Change the subject - "Did you watch the Cubs game yesterday?" • Reverse the pressure - "You know I don't smoke. I thought you were my friend!" • Make an excuse - "I told my Mom that I'd be home in 30 minutes. I gotta go." • Give a reason - "It will stain my teeth and make my hair smell." For more ideas and suggestions, please check out the related links.

Tobacco: Helping your child say no! and Choices: Helping your child make the right ones. Both of these are available from the first web site listed below.

Right Decisions - Right Now American Cancer Society - Teen Use Tobacco Info and Prevention Source Parents - The Anti-Drug The Truth.com

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