There are different reasons why teenagers start smoking. Very few of them start with the idea that they will keep smoking. Indeed, the CDC teen smoking statistics indicate that only three out of 100 high school students that smoke think that they will still be smoking in five years. Many of them feel that it is a temporary thing that they are doing. Unfortunately, the truth is that 60 out of 100 high school students are still smoking seven to nine years later.
Here are some of the causes of teenage smoking:
Peer pressure: This is one of the biggest reasons that teens start smoking. They do it because their friends do. As many as 4,000 teenagers try tobacco every day. For the most part, adults who smoke now started as teenagers. It is important to realize that most teens get their first cigarette from friends.
Media: Portrayals of smoking in the media are nearly all glamorous. Heroes smoke almost as much as villains. And many of villains that smoke in movies and on TV have a certain coolness to them. Not only that, but smoking appears in music videos as well. Cigars are especially seen as a status symbol that goes with living the high life.
Help losing weight: For some, teen smoking can help them lose a few pounds. Instead of eating, many teens - especially girls - will smoke a cigarette. This satisfies a craving, and keeps their minds off food. In a culture obsessed with image, teen smoking can help some teenagers achieve the look they want.
Health consequences seem far off: For many young people, teen smoking doesn’t seem like an immediate danger. Teenagers sometimes feel invincible, and the health problems associated with teen smoking don’t show up for years. It may seem harmless to some teenagers to smoke while they are young - they tell themselves that after a few years they will quit and live healthier.