Teen Smoking

 

 

What Teens Believe about Smoking

These are the top 5 myths that teens believe about smoking:

  1. Smoking is a "rite of passage," a way to be grown up or more of an adult.
  2. Smoking is glamorous; it is something that successful, attractive people do.
  3. It's normal - everybody does it.
  4. It's not really harmful; it can't be that bad if so many people are doing it.
  5. Smoking helps you relax in a social setting.

Preventing Teen Smoking

Teen smoking might begin innocently enough, often as a result of curiosity or peer pressure.  But it can become a lifelong habit with devastating health consequences. 

Check out these successful anti-smoking campaigns that target young people:

 

Operation Storefront
 
OS is an anti-tobacco youth advocacy campaign designed to promote healthy neighborhoods through youth voices.
 
Why?
  • 1,100 youth experiment with tobacco for the first time every day
  • 75% of teens visit a corner/convenience store at least once a week
  • Point-of-purchase advertising attracts young potential smokers and can also influence them to initiate smoking and their brand choices once they begin smoking.

Activities:

  • Survey interior and exterior tobacco ad placement and tobacco product placement at neighborhood corner/convenience stores
  • Enter the tobacco ad photo contest. Use your camera phone or digital camera to photograph tobacco ads on local corner storefronts. E-mail photos to: smokefreeyouth@gmail.com
  • Create an anti-tobacco message (to be aired on radio)

Let your voices be heard and make a difference! Advocate for a healthier community! Earn great prizes!

For more information contact pbrackett@city.cleveland.oh.us or call 216-664-6175.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Tobacco use usually begins in early adolescence or the teen years.  In fact, 9 out of 10 smokers started smoking before the age of 21.  Even though smoking rates have been declining among Americans, teenagers still smoke at a higher rate than adults.   

 
Facts about Cleveland High School Students & Smoking

 

  • More than half (53.8%) have tried smoking cigarettes
  • Almost 15% (14.1) of these students smoked their first cigarette before the age of 13
  • 17% of students predict they will probably or definitely smoke in the next year
  • More students are smoking cigars, little cigars or cigarellos (27.4%) than cigarettes (10.4%)

(source: 2007 Steps to a Healthier Cleveland YRBS Report, conducted by Case Center for Adolescent Health)