5 Ways To Prevent Young People From Smoking

Daily smoking among young people has decreased year by year, but smoking among minors is still a problem. Although young people often smoke less and more irregularly than adults, they develop nicotine dependence faster than adults. Symptoms of addiction may appear after only a few attempts. This is why it is important that parents and other adults do their best to prevent young people from smoking.

The most common causes of smoking among young people

Many factors make a young person smoke. Identifying these factors is important in order to be able to prevent and deter young people from smoking at an early stage.

Social acceptance

This is perhaps the main cause of smoking among young people. Young people who do not smoke are more likely to feel excluded. Instead, many young people are curious, and want to try new things. They may think that smoking is cool and that it makes a young person more popular among others.

Challenging standards

Adolescence and youth have always been characterized as rebellion, disobedience and, to some extent, provocation.

Young people may think that smoking is the easiest and most effective way to break the rules. It is a way of rebelling against parents, teachers and society.

An excuse to relieve stress

Young people often have a false belief that tobacco would help reduce stress or control anxiety. This may drive the young person to smoke.

For example, during the test weeks, the young person experiences a lot of external pressure and emotions may be on the surface. Smoking may provide the young person with an immediate but or momentary feeling of relaxation.

When the effects of tobacco disappear, the young person’s feeling returns to what it was before smoking – or even worse. This knowledge causes the young person to smoke more and more.

Influence of parents

Statistics show that if a child’s parents are smokers, the child is also more likely to start smoking as a parent. In such a case, the nicotine dependence may be more intense than in the case of a young person whose parents do not smoke.

If the parents themselves smoke, they will only be able to blame the young person for smoking. By setting a negative example for young people, they also expose their children to the same addiction.

The impact of the media

Today, it is illegal to display ads or advertising campaigns that encourage smoking. The simple fact, however, is that if someone lights a cigarette in a TV show or movie, it affects young people strongly. The same is true of Lehtimedia. Smoking in the media indirectly incites young people to emulate that activity.

In addition, studies have shown that there is also a strong link between advertising and glorifying the use of alcohol. Young people are particularly vulnerable to this type of advertising.

Lack of knowledge

There are still misleading and erroneous beliefs about the benefits of smoking. As a result, the real negative consequences of smoking are overshadowed by false beliefs.

5 ways to prevent a young person from smoking

• The best way to prevent persistent smoking is to never start smoking.  It is therefore important to prevent young people from even ever tasting tobacco. When a young person tastes tobacco, he or she may start smoking without even realizing its consequences.

• Talking to a young person about smoking and its dangers.  Don’t trust others to teach your youth about the dangers of tobacco. So tell your child what the harmful effects of smoking are on his or her health.
• Giving a good example.  As we mentioned earlier, one factor that makes a young person smoke is imitation. Young people imitate their friends, relatives and especially their parents. If we want our children to stay away from tobacco, so should our parents.
• Relying on common sense.  The young person should personally analyze the harmful effects of smoking critically and objectively.
• Encouraging physical activity.  When a young person is interested in any sport, it encourages the young person to maintain an overall healthy lifestyle. This is undoubtedly a great way to keep a young person away from smoking.