 Statistics |
 Cigarette smoking is a serious issue that has grown rampant among youths. Smoking is the most preventable cause of disease, disability, and premature death (Krainuwat, 2005). “It is estimated that smoking results in more deaths each year in the United States than alcohol, cocaine, heroin, AIDS, suicide, homicide, motor vehicle accidents, and fires combined” (Miller, D.C., 2005, para. 1). Yet, smoking remains prevalent in society and it is a recurrent issue that never goes away. Smoking amongst teenagers is widespread all over the world. In Canada alone, 23% of adolescence is reported to be current smokers (Ballie, Lovato, Johnson, & Kalaw, 2005). Additional statistics in North America have report that smoking begins somewhere between late childhood and young adolescence (Krainuwat, 2005). According to Harrell, Bangdiwala, Deng, Webb, & Bradley study (as cited in Krainuwat, para. 6), “The average age of initiation is twelve to thirteen years old, and by eighteen, two thirds of youths will have already tried cigarettes”. Once there is an early initiation of smoking in childhood, there is a strong correlation of regular smoking in late adolescence. In fact, “The likelihood of staying a smoker is increased by four to six times compared to those who never tried it in their adolescent years” (Krainuwat, 2005, para 9).
Unfortunately, adolescence can be an extremely difficult time for most teenagers. It is a stage of growth and change as well as a time for experimentation. Smoking cigarettes can be one of those times a teenager likes to experiment. There are many factors that may influence a teenager to smoke. Some of these influences are peer pressure, identity, sexual allure, rebellion, family influence, media, weight control, and physiological effects of smoking.
Krainuwat, K. (2005). Smoking initiation prevention among youths: implications for community health nursing practice. Journal of Community Health Nursing, 22(4), 195-204. Retrieved Tuesday, March 13, 2007 from the CINAHL with Full Text database.
Miller, D.C. (2005).Statistics in brief: Adolescent cigarette smoking: a longitudinal analysis through young adulthood.
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