Is Your Child at Risk for Using Cigarettes or Chewing Tobacco?
Submitted by Sara Cleereman BSN, RN
Studies have shown that the following factors greatly increase your child’s risk of smoking cigarettes or using chewing tobacco:
Having a parent or caregiver that smokes cigarettes or chews tobacco- Lack of support or involvement from parents
- Missing school and failing grades
- Lacking college plans
- Spending too much time alone without supervision
- Having parents who are not college educated
- Being white, multi-ethnic, American-Indian, or Alaska Native
- Mental health issues: depression, anxiety, stress and low self-esteem
- Having friends that smoke cigarettes or chew tobacco
- Male high school athletes are more likely to use chewing tobacco than non-athletes
- Living below the poverty level
- Consuming alcohol or other drugs
The key to preventing today’s youth from becoming addicted to commercial tobacco products is early education, parental supervision. 90 percent of those with a tobacco dependence report that they started smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco before the age of 18. There is evidence that youth may be sensitive to nicotine and that teens can feel dependent on tobacco products sooner than adults. Many teens start using tobacco products with the idea that they will quit in a couple of years. However, a very small percentage of teen tobacco users quit, with most developing a long-term tobacco addiction. Every day, more than 3,000 teens become addicted to commercial tobacco products. Talk to your kids about the dangers of tobacco dependence. Become involved in your kids’ lives and social schedules. Parental or guardian involvement has been proven to decrease tobacco use