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Teenagers Smoking
- Most people who smoke
daily start when they are aged between 11 and 14. It can be pretty
upsetting for you but the good news is that the number of 18 to 25 year
olds who smoke is dropping.
- Teenagers sometimes
smoke because they want to rebel. Peer pressure and watching their parents
may also influence them. It can be hard to convince them of the serious
health risks they are taking.
- Encourage your teenagers
to try to quit smoking. You can remind them of the many down sides:
- shortness of breath
- yellow teeth
- bad breath
- damage to the growth
of a baby and increases in the risk of stillbirth and infant death
- expense.
- Nicotine addiction is
difficult to break for most people. Smokers have cravings, can be tense,
irritable, restless and lose sleep. The best way to stop smoking is to
JUST STOP. But beware - withdrawal symptoms can be tough and your teenager
may require support.
- If your teenager is
quitting you can:
- contact the Health
Department about their Quit Information on (08) 9222 2045
- help them think of
something else to do
- help them to be aware
of what they put in their mouths
- find support for the
withdrawal time - it will probably take about a month
- acknowledge what they
are doing and give encouragement
- talk to your doctor
and chemist about nicotine substitutes
- praise their progress,
however small.
- If they are stopping
slowly:
- set a plan with times
when they will reduce the number of cigarettes they are smoking
- ration cigarettes to a
set number per day
- help them make rules
for smoking which make it difficult (only outside, only after dinner)
- help them find people
to talk to.
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