When young people smoke: background information and tips
Adolescents smoke out of curiosity, to impress, or simply because everyone does it. Young bodies in particular are susceptible to the numerous toxins contained in cigarettes. Find out here how you can deal with the issue of smoking at home.
First some good news: Fewer and fewer young people smoke. This was the result of a current study by the KIGGS (Study on the Health of Children and Adolescents in Germany). A comparison with the study results from 2006 clearly shows that the trend is decreasing. Because in 2006, 21 percent of young people smoked, about one in five.
When the study was carried out again in 2018, it was only seven percent and thus only one in fourteen people who smoked cigarettes at a young age. Incidentally, the ratio between girls and boys is balanced. Possible reasons for this decline are increasing health awareness and advertising campaigns promoting the health consequences of smoking. Education has also changed. Addictive substances such as nicotine are being talked about more openly and parents are more aware of their responsibilities during puberty. Here we have put together tips for bringing up children during puberty for you.
Why do teenagers smoke?
In addition to curiosity, there are many reasons why young people smoke:
- They want to appear more mature.
- They want to keep up with the clique and feel more confident that way.
- They want to rebel against their parents’ bans.
- Girls in puberty in particular believe that they lose weight or stay slim by smoking.
- They find it normal because parents and friends also smoke.
- They believe that this will help them focus and relax.
While cigarettes are mostly considered “gross” in childhood, they become increasingly interesting as we get older. How early young people try smoking and whether they smoke regularly afterwards depends to a large extent on their social environment. Of course, friends have a great influence, but parents are not as powerless as they sometimes feel. For young people, their attitude towards smoking is like an inner compass that offers them orientation.
According to the Youth Protection Act , the consumption of tobacco by young people under the age of 18 is taboo in public. Not only cigarettes are meant, but also shishas (water pipes). Adults who give cigarettes to minors can be fined – even if they are the parents.
Speaking to young people about smoking
If you think your child is smoking, you should sit down and talk about it in a quiet minute. Smoking, like alcohol , drugs or sex , is an issue that young people like to hide from their parents. Therefore, here are some tips that can help you during the interview:
1) keep calm. Parents usually don’t get very far with reproaches and threats. Give your child the chance to explain their point of view.
2) Explore motivation. Try to find out what excites your child about smoking. Clarify false assumptions, for example supposedly better concentration, and suggest alternatives.
3) Take a clear stance. Explain to your child that you refuse to smoke because you care about their health. Discuss non-smoking rules with him, which he must at least respect at home.
4) Offer support.Help your child if they want to quit smoking. Celebrate successes with him, but also show understanding for setbacks. Even small rewards can be a motivation to stay on the ball.
5) Stay on topic. Of course it would be nice if a single conversation would already bring insight. But changes take time. Keep the topic of smoking in the back of your mind and regularly ask how things are going.
6) Have good arguments ready. The increased risk of cancer is no secret for teens who smoke, but it’s rarely a reason to quit. Arguments that relate to the here and now are more effective:
• Smoking is expensive. As a non-smoker, your child would have more money at their disposal and there are certainly nicer things that can be financed with it.
• Smokers smell bad. Despite mouth spray and deodorant, many smokers notice the unpleasant smell. It’s a shame if the swarm is deterred by it.
• Smoking impairs fitness. Young people in particular are prone to the typical damage caused by smoking, such as shortness of breath and a greatly increased heart rate. This means that smokers run out of breath much faster when they exercise.
• Smoking damages skin and teeth. The skin is less well supplied with blood and appears pale as a result. In addition, she ages faster. Nicotine stains nails and teeth in heavy smokers.
• Smoking can limit sexuality. Gynecologists advise girls who smoke not to take the pill because of the increased risk of thrombosis. In boys, smoking can lead to poor blood flow to the penis and erectile dysfunction.
• Smokers become dependent. Anyone who smokes regularly develops physical and psychological dependence. The fact that you seem to be able to concentrate and relax better with a cigarette has only to do with the easing of the withdrawal symptoms. In fact, the body is even more stressed.
“You smoke yourself!”
If you smoke yourself, it may seem hypocritical to forbid your child to smoke. But your worries about his health are real – whether you’re a smoker or a non-smoker – and reason enough for a conversation. It has also been shown that children in a smoker’s household reach for a cigarette less often if the parents take a clear, negative stance towards it.
- Most likely, your own tobacco use will come to the table. Try to talk openly about your experiences, such as the difficulty in quitting or the downsides you experience from smoking.
- Take a close look at your smoking habits. What could you change? Which restrictions can be implemented for the whole family? Maybe you can manage to quit together? Parents who can limit themselves appear more credible and motivate their children to tackle their own changes.