Introduction
Each year, tobacco-related illnesses kill 45,000 Canadians. Besides causing lung cancer, smoking is also associated with many other serious health problems, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, breast and other forms of cancer, erectile dysfunction, pneumonia and osteoporosis.
Most smokers take up the habit when they're in their teens. Currently, about one in every five Canadian teenagers smokes.
Warning Signs
Obvious warning signs include the smell of tobacco on the person or their clothes, yellowing of the fingers where the cigarette is held, and finding cigarettes, lighters, or matches in your teen's clothes, room or hidden somewhere in or around the house.
Sudden or progressive changes in your teen's lifestyle could also indicate problems. Changes in their personal appearance, their social circle or their behaviour (sudden aggressiveness, secrecy or rebellion) and a loss of interest in sports, hobbies or school performance may be signs that your teen has taken up smoking.
Factors to Consider
Teen smoking can affect overall health, physical development, emotional growth and schoolwork. If you're the parent of a teen, it's important for you to recognize the signs of substance use, to talk openly and honestly with your teen about smoking, its physical, emotional and social effects, and to get appropriate help if your teen is smoking (especially if they appear to be addicted).
Teens typically go through stages in their use of substances such as tobacco. First, they will experiment with smoking. Most teens try one or more substances one or more times for various reasons, including curiosity, peer pressure and to imitate role models. Many of these teens don�t go past experimenting and, as a result, they don�t end up having the problems that are associated with a hardcore nicotine habit.
Some teens, however, become addicted. They begin to smoke regularly or at least frequently. This can result in family conflict, losing friends who don't smoke, declining interest in school, less participation in hobbies or sports once enjoyed.
When teens develop a physical or psychological addiction to smoking, their problems grow more severe. It becomes difficult to stop smoking for any length of time. The teen needs to smoke just to feel relaxed or "normal." Smoking starts to take up more time and worrying about the next "smoke break" takes up increasing amounts of the teen's mental energy. Their physical energy also begins to suffer and going for a smoke starts to take priority over other healthier activities. Addiction often worsens over the long term, and can result in a fatal disease.
What You Can Do
Talk to your teenager(s) about smoking. Find out if they've tried cigarettes, what effects they noticed and how they feel about smoking. Find out what they liked and didn't like about the experience. (This can also serve as a good test of the quality and openness of your relationship.) Also ask who they smoked with and who supplied the cigarettes.
Let your teen know that you're concerned. Talk about those concerns -- not only about smoking, but about other forms of drug use, as well. If you've seen any of the possible warning signs listed above, share them. Try to do this in a non-judgmental way, focusing on observations and behaviours, rather than attacking your son or daughter.
Tell your teen your expectations with regard to smoking and the consequences they will face if your expectations are not met. Let your son or daughter know that it's important to stop smoking, especially if there's a family history of smoking or other addictions.
Educate them on the harmful effects of smoking. The teen years are important for learning, and drug education is no exception. Attend seminars. Talk to health and addictions professionals. Discuss the short- and long-term effects of smoking.
You're a role model: don't smoke yourself. If you are a smoker, take steps to quit immediately.
Most teens start smoking because of peer pressure. Seeing images of celebrities smoking can also play a role. To counteract these influences, encourage your son or daughter to be an independent, critical thinker, not someone easily led by others.
Help maintain your teen's emotional health by addressing any issues you may have as a family. Be ready and willing to seek family counselling.
Since many people smoke to cope with stress and anxiety, work with your teen to build their stress resilience. Let them know it's safe to talk to you.
Even if your children don't smoke, they could still be putting their health at risk through exposure to secondhand smoke. Educate your teen about the dangers of secondhand smoke and encourage them to avoid it as much as possible.
Further Resources
Contact the Canadian Lung Association at www.albertaquits.ca or 1-866-332-2322 or the Smoker's Helpline at www.smokerhelpline.ca or 1-877-513-5333.
