Teens and Smoking

Anyone who has ever tried to stop smoking knows how difficult it is to quit. There's no lack of information about how unhealthy smoking is for you - not to mention unpleasantly smelly. So why would teens ever begin to smoke?

The answer lies in the developmental stage of young teens. Research shows that the majority of smokers lit up their first cigarette in their early or mid teens, precisely at a time that children are beginning to establish their own identity apart from their parents. Smoking can be an act of rebellion against parents or authority figures, as well as a way to fit in with others and feel accepted.

Young teens live in the moment, too. They don't think about how powerfully addictive smoking is in a very short time, nor do they generally care about health risks that may not manifest themselves until late adulthood.

Parents who are smokers themselves tend to underestimate the importance that their own habit plays on their teen's choice to smoke. And many parents, whether or not they are smokers, underestimate their influence on their child's decisions.

But teens are watching and listening to parents much of the time, even if it doesn't seem that way. And the good news is that those persons who haven't begun smoking by the age of 18 are not likely to begin.

Here are some things that parents can do to help a child stay smoke free:

• Start talking to your teen about how bad smoking is for him early, well before his teens. Avoid sounding preachy or using scare tactics. Keep talking, too. One discussion will not be enough to help your child resist smoking.
• Give your child the facts, but focus on the things she can relate to. Such as that smoking makes your hair and clothing smell bad, stains the teeth, and diminishes your lung power to play sports.
• Play on your child's desire to make his own choices. Talk about the addictive power of smoking and tell him that while that first few cigarettes are his choice, the addiction that occurs shortly afterwards makes him powerless to decide whether or not he wants to light up.
• Work on self-esteem and self-confidence with your teen. Much of the attraction of smoking is to gain acceptance. Help your teen to feel good about herself without having to smoke.
• Teach stress reduction techniques, such as exercise, writing in a diary, or talking about feelings to help your child learn to deal with the stress of living without resorting to smoking.
• Practice, practice, practice. Create scenarios and ask her to say what she would do in each situation. Role play to help her to develop the skills to be able to say no when offered cigarettes.

Fast Facts About Adolescents

More than 70 percent of children and adolescents with depressive disorders or other serious mood disorders do not receive appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

EXCEL Academy
EXCEL Academy is a recovery-focused college prep boarding school for troubled teens in Texas. If your teen would benefit from a sober boarding high school environment and a strong culture of recovery from substance abuse, then call 866-858-4883 to learn more about EXCEL Academy.