As the parent of a teen who smokes, you may have no idea why your teen starts smoking. And the first question that might cross his mind is how can I ask my teenager to quit smoking? Before you can do this, it’s important to understand a few things first.

Why do teenagers start smoking?

Peer pressure is one of the most common reasons teens smoke. If one of their friends has started, they think they have to smoke too. They do it to maintain acceptance and a sense of belonging to a group.

Another reason for smoking is image projection. An “image” is attached to the cigarettes such as being cool, manly, or adult. Adolescence is the time when adolescents struggle for identity. If teens want to have one of these images, smoking may be the answer they’re looking for.

Problems at home can put a lot of pressure on your children. And they use smoking as a form of stress relief. For many out of control teens, this is the result of rebellion. Knowing that this will upset his parents and because it is forbidden, he becomes more attractive to them.

Teenagers like to act like they are dangerous or mature. By smoking, they can act on those feelings. They may only want to try it the first time, but as we all know, once you smoke, it’s hard to stop. This is because nicotine is present, which is highly addictive but is ignored by many teens and adults alike.

Consequences of a nicotine habit

Smoking is a difficult habit to break. Along with it, you can acquire harmful effects on your health. If you smoke, you can also end up with bad skin. Substances like nicotine block blood vessels preventing nutrients from reaching the skin, which in turn causes premature aging.

Teenagers are very concerned about their appearance and personal hygiene. Reminding them that cigarettes leave smokers with persistent bad breath might make them quit. And the stale smell of smoke often lingers on your hair and clothes, which is extremely unpleasant for others who don’t take up this unpleasant habit.

There is also an increased risk of disease. And to top it off, teen smokers may experience an increased risk of injury and a slower healing process. As a parent, you may want to discuss these consequences with your son or daughter. Understanding more about this harmful habit can lead to a more informative conversation with your teen.