With all our knowledge about smoking why do teens start to smoke?

Question

I have never smoked in large part because of all the stuff we know about smoking. I don't understand how teens start to smoke knowing how bad it is for them. I guess i am naive because i never gave into peer presure and tried anything i did not want to. I never binged on alchol and never tried any drugs. To me with all our knowledge no new people would start smoking

Answer 1

to be cool.

Answer 2

I should first tell you that I am 43. Just so you know where I am coming from. While I believe parents do not give their children enough credit, nor do children give their parents enough credit. Having said that..... Your (and those of you generation's) thoughts are totally valid. And I place great value on that. But, at 14, your wisdom is still under construction, as is mine. I certainly don't think teens know nothing, teens these days, in fact, know way more than teens did in my younger years. But there are those adults who dismiss younger ideas more readily than others. This is why teens rebel. They feel bereft of support or acknowledgement. When I listen to questions or problems here from a teen, my stance is to give them the benefit of my years and experiences. But I always keep the dialogue open. You should as well. If an lder person totally shuts you down, then take it with a grain of salt. Don't totally dismiss it, but take it for what it is. They are putting up a wall. Just as you are here. The scenario being, "I know better because I'm older." response, "You're not listening to me." This is just emotional escalation. I know teens (and adults, for that matter) will do what they want. And lessons will be learned from these actions. In many cases, I think adults just don't want the yunger generation to make the same mistakes they did. But, maybe some of these mistakes should be inevitable, so learning is possible. You say, "nowadays." This very question and scenario goes back for millennia. At 14, I thought the very same thing. I hope I didn't sound too esoteric and helped a little.

Answer 3

The reason they start to smoke is their friend's are doing it and there going to do it so they don't get left out. This is a very good question b/c I work at a restaurant with a bunch of teenagers that just started smoking as soon as they got hired on. The thing is they only smoke when they are at work or with there friends. So I think they only reason they smoke so they can get a 5 min little sit down break at work and not be left out while hanging out with there friends. I have a smoked off and on for about 5 years I recently quit two weeks ago and I will never ever go back to that nasty dirty habit.

Answer 4

I am naive too when it comes to those things. I'm 18 years old and to my knowledge, I am a very pretty girl. I have a good body shape. I am not fat or too skinny. I am perfect in every way.
However, I have never had a boyfriend. I'm stilll a virgin and never been to anny parties. I have never smoked or did drugs.
I have drank once but that's only because I was curious. And, I was only with my sister and it was around New Years Eve. Plus, I am eighteen.
But, really, why do teens do that crap? Smoking is bad and we know that. Kids know that. They do it because they think they are cool, and they don't care that they are wrecking their bodies.

Answer 5

It's peer pressure. They think that they won't get addicted by smoking only one cigarette. If their friends smoke, then they'll probably be caught up in the crowd and end up trying a cigarette, then one leads to another then they're hooked. Also, if their parents smoke, then most likely the teenager is going to smoke. Some kids say, "My mom/dad has been smoking for fifteen years and she/he is in perfect condition!" or they say, "It's my body! Let me do what I want with it!" I hope that helps! Peer pressure is what makes teens do stupid things, no matter how much they know it can kill you.

Answer 6

Because teens are stupid and do what they think is cool. Like the old saying goes, "If your friend jumps off a bridge, would you?" Most teens see their favorite actors, singers, and role models smoking and think it's cool. Let me tell you something. Before you start, or even think about starting, think about your future. You will be a lot richer if you don't waste your money on cancer sticks. I made it through the whole peer pressure thing. It's not hard. Teens need to do what they feel is right for their own life, not what their friends think is right. But, since teens are so stupid, they'll ignore their own safety and do what their friends tell them to.

Answer 7

Teens often do what their friends do. They want to seem cool, sophisticated and grown up. Nervous people often smoke to have something to do with their hands. Movies show glamorous people smoking. Here in New York, teens can not legally buy cigarettes until 18. So they share, steal and otherwise stop thinking in order to be an adult and therefore they smoke. People whose parents don't smoke are less likely to smoke.

Answer 8

Of course teens know it is bad to smoke, and stuff and that it will only turn ur lungs black and ur teeth yellow. but do they care? to look cool amongst their peers is all a teen will care about nowadays. maybe not all teens but a majority of teens do. they want to fit in and the only way to fit in is to do drugs or smoke. so many times its the fact that they know its bad for them yet they dont wnt to stop and has given in to peer pressure.

Answer 9

Peir presure im 14 and smoked at 11 and 12 jst because my friend did luckily enough only once or twice and i am stong willed and didnt like it so i didnt carry on but not all people my age are like that .

Answer 10

If they have freinds that smoke they mit.but keep telling them not too.if that doesent work find a person that has smoke and got cancer or something from smoking and let the teen talk to them if they can see what can happens because you smoke they will see that every time they wont to smoke.good luck and dont give up on them.

Answer 11

Looking at your avatar, aren't you a little young to be drinking and smoking anyway? (Just kidding)

It all comes down to peer pressure. It's great that you haven't bowed to it but the majority of teens do (take a moment to be very proud of yourself!). It has a lot to do with the time of life that kids are expected to become more independent from their families, with that in mind they tend to side more with what their friends are doing and away from what their parents have taught them. It's just a shame that kids tend to identify with the 'negative' aspects of what their friends do instead of the positive.