Smoking withdrawal is difficult for everyone, regardless of age or gender. It is so difficult even for the mentally strongest individuals to break free from tobacco addiction
Nonetheless, I want to focus on the reasons why it is so difficult for teenagers to quit smoking. I picked up this bad habit during my teenage years. I was about 15-16. It happened mainly because I was surrounded by other boys who smoked, and smoking before and after school was a cool practice.
During those years, I attempted to quit smoking numerous times. However, I was unsuccessful. Why is this? Logically, it should have been easier to quit since my addiction was not so strong as it was during the later years. My daily cigarette consumption was typically about five, up to ten cigarettes, and there were days when I smoked no cigarettes. But, I was always unsuccessful.
The reasons are now clear to me as an adult. Teenagers who try to quit smoking cigarettes face entirely different problems than adults. Friends who smoke, peer pressure, and hype are among the main reasons young people smoke. All of these factors contributed to my failures.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 14% of high school students use some type of tobacco product, mainly e-cigarettes. If we compare this statistic to previous decades, smoking is declining. That is good news, but smoking is still a problem among youths.
Here are some reasons why young people may find it challenging to quit smoking.
Teens don’t know or don’t care about the health risks
Teenagers may not completely understand the health hazards of smoking cigarettes. They may think it’s not a big deal, or they can stop anytime. Who cares about health when you’re young and you can enjoy life with your friends? You only live once!
There are ways to make quitting easier for teens who may not understand the dangers of smoking. These include learning about the dangers of smoking and seeking the support of family and friends.
Hereditary genes
Research has revealed that some teens appear to be more likely to smoke because of their genes. Such findings are encouraging and may assist us in better understanding why some people are more prone to addictions than others.
A study by Bristol University found some people are more likely to begin and continue smoking throughout their lives because of a gene. CHRNA5 is the gene that controls how nicotine affects the brain. A person with this gene is more likely to start smoking early and find quitting hard. It appears that some people are more likely to become addicted to cigarettes because of the gene involved.
Pressure from peers
According to the American Lung Association, there is a lot of pressure on teens to keep smoking due to peer pressure, so it can be difficult to overcome this resistance. Most teens believe they must smoke in order to fit in, so quitting can be difficult.
The same thing happened to me. Every time I tried to quit, they discouraged me or said I should just have one more. This pressure is quite difficult to resist, especially if you have been smoking for a long period of time. Everyone was smoking, and I would have stood alone among them.
A part of me wanted to show myself that I didn’t have to smoke because all my friends do. I’m stronger than that! But it didn’t work.
Discussing my parents with my problem might have been a good idea, but I worried about the consequences.
Growing up in a smoking family
A study reveals that It is twice as likely that children who are offspring of smokers will start smoking between ages 13 and 21 as those whose parents are nonsmokers.
Sadly, many people start smoking at an early age because they are born into a smoking family. As a result of their exposure to tobacco smoke at an early age, they become accustomed to it as a habit. This is a serious issue since addiction, and poor health choices are perpetuated for generations to come.
Educating children about the dangers of smoking from a young age is crucial to breaking this cycle. You can set a good example for your children by quitting if you are a smoker. It is not easy, but it is well worth it. You can help them avoid a lifetime of addiction by setting a good example.
For teenagers, nicotine is a feel-good drug
Teenagers often view smoking as a way to rebel or act cool, but they don’t realize that they are becoming addicted to nicotine, a powerful and addictive stimulant.
The stimulating effect of nicotine provides a short-term feeling of well-being, which is why smokers return for more, despite its negative effects.
If teens smoke, they risk developing nicotine addiction, which can eventually lead to other serious health problems. Parents need to discuss the dangers of smoking with their children and explain why it is unwise to do so.
To sum up
Teenagers have many options when it comes to quitting smoking. They can try quitting cold turkey, use nicotine replacement therapy such as gum or patches, or they can take medications.
Those who wish to quit smoking may speak with their parents, friends, or counselors to get all the support they require. They may also use the Internet or books to aid in their attempts to quit smoking.