Nearly 3,000 young people across our country will begin smoking regularly. Of these 3,000 young people, 1,000 will lose that gamble to the diseases caused by smoking.
Courtesy photo
NEWBERRY — Preventing our young people from starting a tobacco habit can show an exponential reduction in the number of adults who are hooked in the future. To that end, Westview will participate in a tobacco sales study during the months of January and February.
The vast majority of current adult smokers began smoking before the age of 20. Almost 20% of high school students who reported lifetime tobacco use had their first tobacco product when they were 12 or younger. This is due in large part to the perception that there is little danger in tobacco. In Newberry, almost 20% of high school students agreed or strongly agreed that it’s okay for teenagers to smoke cigarettes. The decision to smoke or chew tobacco is almost always made during the teen years and more than half of these teens will be addicted as adults, even if they started smoking with the intention of quitting in a few years.
The U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services issued a statement saying that every day “Nearly 3,000 young people across our country will begin smoking regularly. Of these 3,000 young people, 1,000 will lose that gamble to the diseases caused by smoking. The net effect of this is that among children living in America today, five million will die an early, preventable death because of a decision made as a child.”
Compelling new research shows evidence that teenage smokers may face more long-term damage to their health by taking up smoking before the age of 18. Even after they quit, their youthful smoking habit can cause irreparable genetic changes in their lungs, thereby increasing their risk of lung cancer in later years.
The first use of tobacco is hard to resist, especially considering the ease of availability, the minimal legal and social consequences of tobacco use and the slick marketing and advertising campaigns used by tobacco companies. When nicotine’s addictive properties are factored in, tobacco addiction ultimately follows. And vaping is no safe alternative. Remember, the earlier an individual starts smoking, the greater the lifetime risk of smoking-related diseases and death.
Another reason it’s important to help young people avoid the temptation to smoke or vape is that underage smokers are much more likely than nonsmokers to use alcohol and other drugs. Specifically, across grades six through 12, underage smokers in South Carolina are four times more likely to drink alcohol, 10 times more likely to smoke marijuana, 17 times more likely to use hallucinogens and 25 times more likely to use cocaine.
Prevention is definitely the key.
One strategy Westview undertakes is to reduce youth access to tobacco at the point of sale. The primary effort of this strategy is called the Synar Youth Access to Tobacco Study, named for Congressman Mike Synar, who spearheaded the legislation mandating the study. During “Synar” implementation, volunteer youth visit various tobacco outlets in Newberry County and attempt to purchase cigarettes. Educational programming is made available to outlets whose staff sells to underage buyers.
Parents can also do much toward preventing the use of tobacco by young people, but first they need to understand that all young people are at risk of using tobacco products, no matter what their family background or income level. Children model their lives after the people they value. Thus, the most important thing parents and other adults can do is set a good example.
The best practice is not to smoke at all. At the least, avoid using tobacco products in their presence, and don’t involve them in your smoking by asking them to bring you a cigarette or hand you a lighter or ashtray.
Give your children accurate information about the consequences of tobacco use and smoking. Put it in terms they can relate to — usually in reference to their lifestyle and friendships, such as having bad breath, smelly clothes, stained teeth and the possibility of losing privileges. Remind them about the laws governing tobacco sales to minors and help them be strong so they can withstand peer pressure. Encourage them to take part in youth-oriented prevention programs.
As parents and neighbors in Newberry, we must work in our local community to change social views about tobacco and vaping and youth. Let’s make 2024 the year we quit pulling the tobacco leaf over our eyes when it comes to our youth and tobacco use.