Smoking is becoming an epidemic and we can see a lot of teens around the world who have joined the clad of smokers. Teenage smoking is a matter of concern in the United States and is becoming a youth. But the researchers found out that boys are more likely able to quit the habit than girls. A research was done by the University of Montreal, Canada who studied 620 boys and girls in the city between the age group of 12 and 13 who were new smokers or smoked occasionally with friends. They were influenced by the parents, teachers or just followed their friends and colleagues to form it a habit. The study showed that over a period of 5 years, almost 40% of the teens quit smoking where the number of boys that left the habit was more than the girls. What was the factor that didn’t allow the other teens to quit?
The result of quitting this habit was that they enrolled in team sports or they were concerned about the warning instructions given on the cigarette packet. There is need of introducing the methods of quitting girl smoking in the world. Gender specific studies can show us the real picture of the girls smoking percentage across the world. The parents should understand the effect of their smoking on their children. These teens said that nearly 90% of their parents smoked and so they followed them. Some said that they saw their teachers and school staff smoking and the rest just accompanied a smoking friend. The families should work together along with the child and take medical help or advice to quit the habit.
Encouragement from the parents and engaging the children in some activities that will divert their mind and body is necessary. The boys said to have left the habit due to weight issues, excessive drug intake in the body and craving getting beyond control. The results of smoking are dreadful in the later life. Talk and spend some time with your teen to make him understand the effects of the habit.
Tell him that if smoking is appealing or fashionable for him, it isn’t the picture. Smoking is smelly and dirty and often leaves bad breath and wrinkles on the face. Girls can have early aging if smoking is continued for a long time. Smoking makes your clothes, hands, fingers and hair smell. Even your teeth can turn yellow due to excess intake of nicotine.
Tell the teen that if he calculates his weekly expenditure of the cigarettes, he can get something expensive electronics for him which he wants for a long time. Some essentials can be purchased if he saves the money.
Teach him how to handle difficult situations when a friend convinces him to smoke. He should learn to refuse and control his cravings. The more he faces the situation, the more he will say no at the moment.
Spend time with your teen and let him/her speak up. You can make them aware about the cons of this bad habit in a friendly way rather than in a violent way. Convince them to say goodbye to smoking.
