Why Teens Smoke

Teens smoke for many reasons and often for the same reasons as adults do: to cope with stress, to control their weight, as a social habit and to combat boredom.

One of the biggest reasons teens start to smoke is peer influence - their friends do it. Studies show that this is especially true for girls.

Studies show one of the most important tools you have with teens is your relationship. Use your parental influence. Know who your kids hang out with. Have high expectations for them. Listen to them and treat them with respect. Your kids will hold themselves to higher standards too. This is especially important if you smoke yourself.

There's clear evidence that tobacco companies target children in their marketing. Some of the most effective are sports sponsorships - for example, boys are twice as likely to smoke if they follow car racing. Movies too - the more kids sees their favourite movie stars smoking on the screen, the more likely they'll try it themselves. Some researchers think that tobacco advertising carries even more weight than peer influence.

Finally, the main reason that kids smoke is that adults do. Smoking is seen as adult behaviour and kids are always looking for ways to be more grown up.