TeenHealthFX - Answers - Should I Quit

Smoking & Nicotine / Question
Published: May 9, 2002

Dear TeenHealthFX,

I am a 13 year-old female, recently (about two months ago) my friend asked me to smoke a cigarette with her. My parents always told me that smoking is bad. I smoked with her a few times and I really like to smoke but I don't know if I should quit.

Signed: Should I Quit

Dear Should I Quit,

TeenHealthFX cannot say this strongly enough, PLEASE DO NOT SMOKE! Smoking is very addictive and the longer you smoke the harder it is to quit. People who start smoking before the age of 21 have the hardest time quitting, and fewer than 1 in 10 people who try to quit smoking succeed.

Here are some facts from the American Lung Association:

Nicotine, the primary psychoactive substance in tobacco, is considered by many medical authorities as being more addictive than alcohol or cocaine.
More than 434,000 people die each year from tobacco related illness, making it the single most preventable cause of death in the United States.
1,000,000 teenagers who begin smoking annually replace those who die from smoking each year plus those who kick the habit.
Tobacco kills more people than alcohol, cocaine, crack, heroin, homicide, suicide, car accidents, fires and AIDS combined.
Nearly 20% of American teenagers smoke cigarettes.
About half of all daily smoking high school seniors say they would like to quit.
Less than 5% of daily smoking high school seniors think they will be smoking in five years. Follow up studies show that 73% of daily smoking high schoolers are still daily smokers 8 years later.
Children ages 12 to 14 have the highest rate of initiating daily smoking. Of those pack a day smokers in their senior year in high school, 57% began smoking by age 14 (ninth grade).
The majority of all current smokers began their addiction by age 16.
More than 5,000,000 children living today will die prematurely because of their decision to smoke cigarettes.

Pretty scary huh! Not to mention that it makes your clothes and hair smell, as well as staining your teeth and making your breath smell bad.

If you have trouble quitting, talk to your family doctor. Most physicians are trained to deal with nicotine addiction. He/she may also be aware of a program in your area that is geared towards helping young people quit cigarettes. Also, check out quintet.com for more help and advice on stopping.

If you live in northern New Jersey and would like to meet with a doctor, you can call the Adolescent/Young Adult Center For Health at 973.971.6475 for an appointment.

Please do not smoke; it is not worth it.

Signed: TeenHealthFX