Until vaping appeared on the scene, teen smoking had been declining for the past 20 years. Teen smoking is a scourge, but teen nicotine addiction treatment works. At Venture Academy, we can help.
Risk Factors for Teen Smoking
Some teens are at a higher risk of smoking than others. Factors that increase the odds of a teenager smoking include:
- The availability of cigarettes or tobacco
- Having parents who smoke
- Limited family income
- Pressure from friends
- Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse in the home
- Separated or divorced parents
- Poor school performance
- Depression and mental health issues or living with someone who experiences these problems
- Tobacco advertising
- Being a teen who is LGBTQ or of indigenous descent
Parents should consider how addictive nicotine is to their teens. According to research, teens may start experiencing nicotine addiction just three months after trying their first cigarette. Along with this, they may suffer from withdrawal symptoms after using fewer than 100 cigarettes. This is just four to five packs.
Nicotine can have harmful and long-term effects on a teen’s brain. When used regularly, nicotine may cause addiction and future substance use along with mood disorders once teens become adults.
Ways to Discourage Teen Smoking
You can discourage your teenager from smoking by limiting his or her exposure to it at home. Also, express interest in your teen’s health, and make sure that your teen understands the risks of tobacco use and smoking. You can discourage your teenager from smoking by maintaining a dialogue with them. Talk about smoking openly and often. Prepare your teens for peer pressure. Discuss what they would say if a friend offers them a cigarette or an e-cigarette.
If your child is already smoking or vaping, attempt to understand why. This will allow you to help your teen in a healthful way. Instead of punishing your teenager for smoking, give him or her your understanding and work on ways that he or she can resist the urge to smoke.
Signs Your Child May Be Smoking
The signs of teenage smoking include bad breath and yellow teeth. If you notice that your teen has suddenly started chewing gum with greater frequency or is purchasing breath mints and using them every time you interact with him or her, then this could be a sign that he or she has started smoking. Chronic coughing, hoarseness, and throat irritation are other signs. If your teen is edgy with you and then steps out for a few minutes only to return calmer, then he or she may be smoking. People who have a nicotine addiction often become short-tempered when the effects of the substance wear off. When they have a cigarette or take a hit from their e-cigarette, then it will take the edge off, and they’ll feel calmer and happier afterward.
If you spot any signs of smoking, then do your best to avoid overreacting. Instead, focus on communicating why smoking is a poor decision. Remind your teen that when a person is smoke-free, he or she will have better athletic fitness, exude a healthier appearance, be free from addiction, and spend less money. If your child is addicted to nicotine, then you may want to enroll him or her in a treatment facility.
Getting Help for Teen Smoking
If you suspect that your teenager is smoking or have caught him or her in the act, consider seeking help from a quality drug rehab facility. Teen nicotine addiction treatment is available. Contact us at 866.762.2211, and we’ll work with your teen to get him or her on the path to recovery.