HEALTH - Smoking
Background
In the present climate it seems both futile and ignorant to begin smoking when, not only have the prices of cigarettes increased, but the government has made us well aware of the devastating effects smoking has on our health and of those around us. However, despite all the deterrents children still start smoking at increasingly younger ages. It can be a heartbreaking, nerve wracking moment when you detect the tell tale smell of stale smoke on your child’s clothes or discover a packet of cigarettes in their bag. What can you do? How can you make them see sense? How much damage have they already done to themselves?
Some scary facts about smoking
- Over 100,000 people die each year from smoking related diseases, many of which are not quick, painless deaths.
- The earlier in life you start, the more likely you are to smoke for a long period of time and the harder it will be to quit.
- For long term smokers their life expectancy is about 10 years less than non-smokers.
- There are over 4000 chemicals in cigarette smoke as well as more than 50 carcinogens which are known causes of cancer.
It is hard to reach children and teenagers when trying to highlight the negatives of smoking. Many children, although fully aware of the dangers of smoking, choose to smoke as a result of peer pressure. As a result they feel invincible and will be unresponsive to stories about the hardships that lie ahead for them in future years.
A few points that may help children change their minds
Smoking makes your clothes, breath and hair smell like stale smoke.- Your smoking habit may jeopardise potential relationships as many people find smoking a highly unattractive habit.
- Smoking is incredibly expensive. Encourage your child to save the money they would have spent on cigarettes for a short period of time and then spend it on something less damaging like a new dress or a computer game.
- Remember the legal age at which you are allowed to buy and smoke cigarettes has been increased to 18. This means that, if children under the age of 18 are smoking, parents have a responsibility and the authority to help them stop.
What can parents do to help?
- Take the authoritative approach and make it difficult for them - forbid them to smoke in the house at any time.
- Let them know that if they continue to smoke you will begin reducing their allowance/pocket money.
- Any evidence of smoking could be punishable by grounding. The signs of smoking are difficult to hide so this could be an effective way in which to show that smoking will not be tolerated.
- Most importantly, talk to your child. Let them know that smoking is a horrible, detrimental habit and that in the long run they will regret giving in to peer pressure.
Useful Links
For more information on smoking, and how to help people quit, take a look at the following sites: