To many young people the image of smoking is that it's glamorous and grown up and offers them an insight into a world they're not yet part of. They don't consider that it's something they'll probably end up doing for the rest of their lives.
Cigarettes contain nicotine, a substance as addictive as heroin and cocaine, so if you decide you want to stop smoking, it's not like giving up shopping or chocolate - it's much more difficult.
Seventy percent of adult smokers started when they were aged between 11 and 15 - do you think they all thought they'd carry on for so long? Stopping smoking is not easy and the best solution is never to start in the first place.
I'm sure at some point we've all heard the worrying statistics of what smoking can do to our health. It's very important for parents, schools, hospitals, and the government to give advice and statistics about the dangers of smoking and why young people shouldn't start, but sometimes it's the more practical aspects that stop us starting in the first place:
Have you ever kissed an ash-tray? Would you want to? How would you feel if, as a smoker, you kissed someone and that's how they described it to their best friend?
Would you set fire to a £5 note? For each packet of cigarettes you buy, almost a fiver is going up in smoke!
Ever cooked a BBQ? Do you remember what your clothes smelled like afterwards? Imagine smelling like that ALL the time.
You're bored and it gives you something to do? With the money you save by not smoking, you could see a movie, go shopping and still smell good!!
A local young person gave us their views on smoking:
"Like most people, and more specifically teenagers I know, I have been tempted to smoke by the exciting and rebellious undertones it carries, and indeed at one time a vast majority of my friends did smoke. However I do feel proud to say that despite pressure and temptation, I have never smoked for a number of reasons.
"One, why waste my money on something that could easily lead to me becoming just another statistic on the cancer death rates?
"Two, if any so called “mate” really felt the need to place intense pressure and subsequent resentment towards me if I don’t, then why am I wasting good time and energy spending time with them? No good could come of me smoking, so why should I do it?"
So, is smoking a cool habit? |
