A Contribution to the Prevention of Adolescent Smoking
by Brady Turner
April 18, 2006
Adolescent smoking is a major health concern. The tobaccofreekids.com website has enough facts to educate someone on Adolescents and Smoking. The website tells many facts:
The Facts about Your Adolescent:
Adolescent smokers get the cigarettes they smoke by stealing, directly from the retailer, vending machines, from other kids, or by giving money to others to buy for them.
Each day, about 4,000 kids try their first cigarette; and each day another 1,500 other kids under 18 years of age become new regular, daily smokers. Thats 545,000 new underage smokers each year.
90 percent of all adult smokers began while in their teens, or earlier, and nearly two-thirds became regular, daily smokers before they reach the age of 19.
23.2 percent of high school students are current smokers by the time they leave high school.
Roughly one-third of all youth smokers will eventually die prematurely from smoking-caused disease.
Smoking can also seriously harm kids while they are still young. Besides the bad breathe, irritated eyes and throat, and increased heartbeat and blood pressure, near-term harms from youth smoking include respiratory problems, reduced immune function, increased illness, tooth decay, gum disease, and pre-cancerous gene metations.
Smoking during youth is also associated with an increased likelihood of using drugs.
A Journal of the National Career Institue Study found that teens were more likely to be influenced to smoke by cigarette marketing than by peer pressure. Similarily, a Journal of the American Medical Association study found that as much as a third of underage experimentation with smoking was attributable to tobacco company marketing efforts.
3 million kids under the age of 18 are current smokers
14.9 percent of 10th graders and 9.3 percent of 8th graders are current smokers.
82.8 percent of youth (12-17) smokers prefer Marlboro, Camel, and Newport- three heavily advertised brands
21.7 percent of all high school students are current smokers. (21.6% of males and 21.8% of females)
The Facts on the Harms of Smoking:
* Beyond smoke- or nicotine-stained teeth, smokers are also more likely to suffer from periodontal disease and to have more serious periodontal disease, including tooth loss.
* Chronic coughing, increased phlegm, emphysema and bronchitis have been well-established products of smoking for decades; and smokers are also more susceptible to influenza and more likely to experience severe symptoms when they get the flu.
* Smoking causes mild airway obstruction, reduced lung function, and slowed growth of lung function among adolescents.
* Teenage smokers suffer from shortness of breath almost three times more often as teens who dont smoke, and produce phlegm more than twice as often as teens who dont smoke. Not surprisingly, smoking also hurts young peoples physical fitness in terms of both performance and endurance- even among young people trained in competitive running.
* The resting heart of young adult smokers are two to three beats per minute faster than nonsmokers; and studies have shown that early signs of heart disease and stroke can be found in adolescents who smoke.
* While many smokers believe that smoking relieves stress, it is actually a major cause. Smoking only appears to reduce stress because it lessens the irritability and tension caused by the underlying nicotine addiction.
* High school seniors who are regualar smokers and began smoking by grade nine are more than twice as likely than their nonsmoking peers to report poorer overall health; roughly two and half times more likely to report cough with phlegm or blood, shortness of breath when not exercising, and wheezing or gasping; and three times more likely to have seen a doctor or other health professional for an emotional or psychological complaint.
* Smoking causes bad breath and makes smokers homes and clothes stink; and , perhaps fortunately for smokers, it also reduces their sense of smell.
All it takes are the simple moments that your spend with your child to describe the harms of smoking.
by Brady Turner
April 18, 2006
Adolescent smoking is a major health concern. The tobaccofreekids.com website has enough facts to educate someone on Adolescents and Smoking. The website tells many facts:
The Facts about Your Adolescent:
Adolescent smokers get the cigarettes they smoke by stealing, directly from the retailer, vending machines, from other kids, or by giving money to others to buy for them.
Each day, about 4,000 kids try their first cigarette; and each day another 1,500 other kids under 18 years of age become new regular, daily smokers. Thats 545,000 new underage smokers each year.
90 percent of all adult smokers began while in their teens, or earlier, and nearly two-thirds became regular, daily smokers before they reach the age of 19.
23.2 percent of high school students are current smokers by the time they leave high school.
Roughly one-third of all youth smokers will eventually die prematurely from smoking-caused disease.
Smoking can also seriously harm kids while they are still young. Besides the bad breathe, irritated eyes and throat, and increased heartbeat and blood pressure, near-term harms from youth smoking include respiratory problems, reduced immune function, increased illness, tooth decay, gum disease, and pre-cancerous gene metations.
Smoking during youth is also associated with an increased likelihood of using drugs.
A Journal of the National Career Institue Study found that teens were more likely to be influenced to smoke by cigarette marketing than by peer pressure. Similarily, a Journal of the American Medical Association study found that as much as a third of underage experimentation with smoking was attributable to tobacco company marketing efforts.
3 million kids under the age of 18 are current smokers
14.9 percent of 10th graders and 9.3 percent of 8th graders are current smokers.
82.8 percent of youth (12-17) smokers prefer Marlboro, Camel, and Newport- three heavily advertised brands
21.7 percent of all high school students are current smokers. (21.6% of males and 21.8% of females)
The Facts on the Harms of Smoking:
* Beyond smoke- or nicotine-stained teeth, smokers are also more likely to suffer from periodontal disease and to have more serious periodontal disease, including tooth loss.
* Chronic coughing, increased phlegm, emphysema and bronchitis have been well-established products of smoking for decades; and smokers are also more susceptible to influenza and more likely to experience severe symptoms when they get the flu.
* Smoking causes mild airway obstruction, reduced lung function, and slowed growth of lung function among adolescents.
* Teenage smokers suffer from shortness of breath almost three times more often as teens who dont smoke, and produce phlegm more than twice as often as teens who dont smoke. Not surprisingly, smoking also hurts young peoples physical fitness in terms of both performance and endurance- even among young people trained in competitive running.
* The resting heart of young adult smokers are two to three beats per minute faster than nonsmokers; and studies have shown that early signs of heart disease and stroke can be found in adolescents who smoke.
* While many smokers believe that smoking relieves stress, it is actually a major cause. Smoking only appears to reduce stress because it lessens the irritability and tension caused by the underlying nicotine addiction.
* High school seniors who are regualar smokers and began smoking by grade nine are more than twice as likely than their nonsmoking peers to report poorer overall health; roughly two and half times more likely to report cough with phlegm or blood, shortness of breath when not exercising, and wheezing or gasping; and three times more likely to have seen a doctor or other health professional for an emotional or psychological complaint.
* Smoking causes bad breath and makes smokers homes and clothes stink; and , perhaps fortunately for smokers, it also reduces their sense of smell.
All it takes are the simple moments that your spend with your child to describe the harms of smoking.
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