Kids who smoke have smoking-related health problems
Cigarette smoking causes serious health problems in children and teens. Regular teen smokers report problems such as:
- Coughing spells
- Shortness of breath, even when not exercising
- Wheezing or gasping
- More frequent headaches
- Increased phlegm (mucus)
- Respiratory illnesses that are worse and happen more often
- Worse cold and flu symptoms
- Reduced physical fitness
- Poor lung growth and function
- Worse overall health
- Addiction to nicotine
As they get older, teens who continue to smoke can expect problems like:
- Gum disease and tooth loss
- Chronic lung diseases, like emphysema and bronchitis, which limit exercise and activity
- Hearing loss
- Vision problems, such as macular degeneration, which can lead to blindness
- Blood vessel disease, which can lead to heart attacks or strokes at a young age
Each day, nearly 4,000 kids under the age of 18 try their first cigarette and another 1,000 become regular, daily smokers. About one third of these kids will die prematurely from a smoking-related disease.
Most young smokers are addicted and find it hard to quit
Most young people who smoke regularly are already addicted to nicotine. In fact, they have the same kind of addiction as adult smokers. According to the 2012 Surgeon General’s Report:
“Of every three young smokers, only one will quit, and one of those remaining smokers will die from tobacco-related causes. Most of these young people never considered the long-term health consequences associated with tobacco use when they started smoking; and nicotine, a highly addictive drug, causes many to continue smoking well into adulthood, often with deadly consequences.”
Most teen smokers say that they would like to quit and many have tried to do so without success. Those who try to quit smoking report withdrawal symptoms much like those reported by adults.
Tobacco use is linked to other harmful behaviors
Research has shown that teen tobacco users are more likely to use alcohol and illegal drugs than are non-users. Cigarette smokers are also more likely to get into fights, carry weapons, attempt suicide, suffer from mental health problems such as depression, and engage in high-risk sexual behaviors.
Spit or smokeless tobacco use is also a big problem among kids
Spit or smokeless tobacco is a less lethal, but still unsafe, alternative to smoking. There are many terms used to describe tobacco that is put into the mouth, such as spit, spitless, oral tobacco, and chewing or snuff tobacco.
The use of spit or smokeless tobacco by any name can cause:
- Cancers of the mouth
- Cancers of the pharynx (throat) and larynx (voice box)
- Cancers of the esophagus (swallowing tube) and stomach
- Cancer of the pancreas
- Receding gums and gum disease, which can worsen to the point that the teeth fall out
- Pre-cancerous spots in the mouth, called leukoplakia
- Nicotine addiction
There is also a link to heart disease and stroke. And research has shown that teens who use spit or other oral tobacco are more likely to become smokers than non-users.
Smoking bans mean more promotion of spit or smokeless tobacco
Unfortunately, the new smoking bans in many states may have an unintended effect on the use of spit and other smokeless tobacco. As recommended by the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC), many schools no longer allow students, staff, parents, or visitors to smoke on school grounds, in school vehicles, or at school functions. In light of bans like this, tobacco companies are more strongly marketing their smokeless tobacco products. Many of these new tobacco products are being advertised as more discreet alternatives to smoking in places where smoking is not allowed.
Using spit or smokeless tobacco to quit smoking
Some companies promote using spit or smokeless tobacco as a way to help quit smoking, but there’s no proof that spit tobacco or any other oral tobacco products help smokers quit smoking. Unlike US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved standard treatments that have been proven to work, such as nicotine replacement, anti-depressants, nicotine receptor blockers, and behavioral therapy, oral tobacco products have not been tested to see if they can help a person stop smoking.
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