Why Do People Still Use Tobacco?

Peer Pressure to Use Tobacco

Peers may persuade teenagers and even younger children to try tobacco. Even if they do not try verbally to influence another person, simply using tobacco around young people can motivate them to mimic the behavior. Because they want to fit in, or seem more mature than they really are, they try using tobacco. When teenagers or younger people first begin using tobacco, it is easy to limit usage. They may only use it during parties or when around friends who use tobacco. They may believe that tobacco is not addictive for them and that they can continue to control their use indefinitely. But nicotine is addictive, and eventually they will likely become addicted as well.

Parental Influence

Children of parents who smoke are more likely to begin smoking than children whose parents do not smoke. In fact, research done at the University of Washington indicates that the teenagers of smokers are twice as likely to begin smoking. Children exposed to secondhand smoke may become addicted to nicotine even though they have never actually smoked a cigarette. "Health News" reported children too young to smoke a cigarette on their own showing evidence of nicotine addiction, including withdrawal symptoms from exposure to parental smoke.

Weight Control

Many people believe that smoking prevents them from snacking on foods, which helps them to control their weight. In fact, U.S. government research indicates that four out of five people who quit smoking do gain weight. However, the health benefits associated with not smoking are far greater than the health risk associated with a little weight gain. Most people who gain weight when they quit smoking will lose some after about six months.

The Calming Effect

People smoke because they think it calms their nerves. It does answer their body's craving for the nicotine it has become addicted to; however, it is not actually calming. The "Journal of the American Medical Association" has a new report indicating that smoking one pack of cigarettes a day as a teenager significantly increases the development of panic disorders and episodes of panic during adulthood. Adults who were able to stop smoking for a full two weeks reported lower overall anxiety levels.

Resources

• "Health News" report on child nicotine dependence
• Why teens smoke
• Smoking and weight control