For the past years, the growth of cigarette smokers, particularly in teens or young adults have been attributed to more aggressive marketing schemes that lures people into smoking. It is a dangerous upward trend that has been going on for many generations.

According to studies, the use of tobacco starts when people are in their early years in high school – the phase when peer pressure is also prevalent. It has been proven time and again, with scientific basis and the support of local governments, that smoking is a deadly vice that can harm not just the smoker, but other people as well through second-hand smoke. Nicotine is the prime culprit in smoking-related illnesses.

Cigarette-smoking is an addictive vice that as adults in the household, there are things that you can do in order to handle or deal with teenage smoking.

• Be a good example to your teens. According to studies, teens assume that smoking is okay especially when they see their parents smoke too. If an adult in your household (parent or any figure of authority) is smoking, then this is also a good opportunity to quit smoking. In fact, you can even forbid any smoking related item in your house – cigar and lighters even. The media is also supporting this cause – Disney movies has does not incorporate scenes in their films that show people smoking.
• Talk about how much you disagree with smoking. It is an in-your-face message that in no way will you tolerate smoking inside your home. Make the ground rules and stick with them. This way, your teens will know that you are indeed serious and that you are vocal about your no smoking policy.   
• Appeal to their vanity when talking about the disadvantages of smoking. While the health aspect may not immediately appeal to them (until they are older and more conscious of it), talk about the effects of smoking and how bad it smells, or how bad it can make their breath smell, and how it can discolor their teeth. This way, they can immediately ‘relate’ and imagine the bad effects of smoking.
• Smoking costs them money. Make him r her realize the cost implications of smoking – costs that have better use when buying gadgets or buying new clothes. And in the future, emphasize that smoking can cost them some serious money when they acquire illnesses and diseases brought about by smoking.
• Keep communication lines open and be honest. This way, your teen will be more open and you would know whether there is already a threat of being addicted to smoking. As they say, prevention is the best medicine.

Smoking is a vice and quitting it is a very possible option. It is just a matter of working together to resolve the matter because smoking will not go away on itself. There has to be real guidance in order to bring about a conscious effort and decision to quit smoking. Quitting it may take months or years, but the benefits of it will last a lifetime.