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Young people and smoking:
NHS Smoking Helpline 0800 169 0 169 Don’t give up giving up.
Did you know?
- One person dies from a smoking-related disease every four minutes in Britain.
- That’s the same as a full Jumbo Jet crashing every single day for a year.
- Most people killed by tobacco started smoking when they were teenagers.
- Around half of the teenagers who carry on smoking will eventually be killed by tobacco. Half of these will die in middle age (between 35 and 69).
Does that sound like something you want to get into?
Young people start smoking for lots of reasons. Some are curious about what it’s like. Others want to try it because they’ve seen other people smoking – friends, family or famous people they admire. Others think it will make them look more mature or a bit cool.
Whatever the reason for starting, no-one ever thinks that they’ll be smoking for life. But don’t underestimate the addictive nature of nicotine. It’s not like shopping or chocolate – nicotine is as addictive as heroin and cocaine. Seventy per cent of adult smokers started when they were aged 11–15 – do you think they all thought they’d carry on for so long? Stopping smoking is not easy and the best solution is never to start in the first place.
The Facts:
Save your life
Smoking contributes to cancer, heart disease, bronchitis, strokes, stomach ulcers, leukaemia, gum disease, gangrene, asthma, wrinkles,bad breath.
Keep fit
Smoking makes you short of breath, making sport, exercise and dancing more difficult.
Secondhand smoke
Secondhand smoke is other people’s tobacco smoke. Breathing in their smoke is also known as passive smoking. This can cause headaches and lack of concentration. Each year around 17,000 kids under the age of 5 go into hospital with complaints caused by smoke from their parents’ cigarettes.
It’s not just about you
Children as young as 5 years old have tried cigarettes. Kids are more likely to try smoking if they have seen their brothers or sisters doing it. So be a positive role model and influence on your family – don’t smoke.
The Myths:
Smoking helps me chill
Cigarettes don’t make you relax. Nicotine is a stimulant. It actually speeds up your bodily functions – especially your heart rate.
Smoking is sexy
Kissing someone with a mouth like an ashtray isn’t sexy. Having smoke blown in your face isn’t sexy. Lung cancer isn’t sexy. However, buying someone special a gift with the money you didn’t spend on smoking is definitely sexy.
Smoking keeps me skinny
Cigarettes don’t keep your body weight down and they can even cause cellulite. Some people replace cigarettes with food when they give up and may therefore put on a few pounds. But if you’ve managed to give up smoking, you’ll be able to tackle any weight gain without any problems.
It’s just something I do with my mates
It’s not like you didn’t hang out with your mates before you started smoking. There are loads of things you can do with them without killing yourself. You can play football, go and see a film, listen to some tunes, start a band.
I can smoke if I want to
Smoking isn’t about being independent. It’s addictive, and being an addict makes you more dependent than independent.
It makes me look mature
Yes, smoking does ruin your skin and teeth and give you wrinkles before your time but apart from that there’s nothing mature about smelling of fags and inhaling vast amounts of grim chemicals.
Saying no...
You don’t have to justify your decision not to smoke to anyone. Real friends will respect your right to make up your own mind.
NHS Smoking Helpline 0800 169 0 169 Don’t give up giving up.