Smoking and Children: Facts and Strategies for Parents

We all know there are many ways to care for your body. The problem is that there are just as many ways to damage it; and some of these we actually enjoy doing. One way to really damage your body is by smoking or using tobacco. These habits have been proven to age skin prematurely, stain teeth yellow, cause bad breath, increase the number of dental cavities, cause receding gums, discolor skin on the fingers, and make you feel tired. Most importantly these habits cause cancer, especially of the mouth, throat, tongue, and lungs.

How Tobacco Affects the Body

• Eyes, nose and throat become irritated
• Fingers become stained a brownish-yellow
• Sense of smell and taste become impaired
• Teeth become stained yellow
• Heart pumps faster
• Blood pressure increases
• Lungs receive less oxygen
• Smokeless tobacco can cause mouth sores and gum disease

Some Important Facts about Smoking

• If your child does not use tobacco products prior to 18 years of age it is unlikely that he or she will begin later in life.
• 89% of adults who smoke regularly started before they turned 18 years old.
• Every day, 3,000 Americans under the age of 18 begin to smoke.
• One of every three people who continue to smoke will die prematurely from a smoking-related illness.
• Smoking causes 1,200 early deaths every day in the United States.
• Smoking causes more than 400,000 early deaths every year in the United States.

Common Signs of Teen Smoking or Tobacco Use

1. Regular use of breath mints and/or eye drops.
2. Noticeable physical symptoms of blotchy skin, red eyes, and runny nose.
3. A sudden change in peer groups.
4. Very secretive behaviors.
5. Possible decrease of interest in school.
6. Decreased motivation and lack of energy.
7. Fluctuation in mood.
8. Unforeseen change in behavior patterns.

Any one of these behaviors alone probably does not indicate tobacco use. However, if you start to see a consistent pattern of physical symptoms and behavior change over a period of time, it may indicate a need to talk to your child or teen about smoking.

Questionnaire to Generate Discussion with Your Child

Use this questionnaire to help get you started talking with your child about smoking. If you smoke, it may be helpful to share your own feelings and experiences in order to increase awareness about the issues surrounding smoking.

How old is your child?

5-10 years
11 -13 years
14 -16 years
17 -19 years

How old was he/she when he/she first started to smoke? ______ years old

Do YOU smoke? Yes No

How old were YOU when you first started to smoke?

How many cigarettes per day does your child smoke?

You?

Does she usually smoke her first cigarette of the day within 1 hour of waking time in the morning? Yes No

You? Yes No

Has your child ever tried to quit smoking? Yes No

If Yes, how many times?

You? Yes No

If Yes, how many times?

How long has your child ever gone without smoking a cigarette?

1 day or less
1 to 7 days
1 wk. to 1 mo.
1 to 6 mos.
6 mos. to 1 yr.
1 yr. or more
S/he has never tried to quit.

You?

1 day or less
1 to 7 days
1 wk. to 1 mo.
1 to 6 mos.
6 mos. to 1 yr.
1 yr. or more
S/he has never tried to quit.

Why does your child believe that s/he smokes?

His/her friends smoke. Yes No
S/he enjoys the pleasure. Yes No
S/he will look funny if friends are smoking and s/he is not. Yesv No
S/he won't have friends if not smoking. Yes No
S/he's addicted. Yes No

Why do YOU believe that you smoke?

My friends smoke. Yes No
I enjoy the pleasure. Yes No
I will look funny if friends are smoking and I am not. Yes No
I won't have friends if I don't smoke. Yes No
I'm addicted. Yes No

What beliefs might inhibit your child from stopping smoking?

Friends may not like spending time with her anymore. Yes No
Her addiction may make in nearly impossible to quit. Yes No
She fears the withdrawal symptoms (headaches, weight gain, lack of concentration). Yes No

What might inhibit YOU from stopping smoking?

My friends may not like spending time with me anymore. Yes No
My addiction may make in nearly impossible to quit. Yes No
I fear the withdrawal symptoms (headaches, weight gain, lack of concentration). Yes No

How motivated is your child to stop smoking?

Very Motivated
Somewhat Motivated
Not at all

How motivated are YOU to stop smoking?

Very Motivated
Somewhat Motivated
Not at all

Helping Your Child Learn to Stay Away from Smoking

Staying away from tobacco is much easier said than done. These are some helpful “turn down” hints that your child may use when faced with a choice to smoke or not.

1. ASK QUESTIONS that make you think about what you are doing.

   "What is the benefit right now of smoking this cigarette?"

2. RECOGNIZE THE TROUBLE that may occur from the situation you are in.

   "My breath is gonna stink."
   "Those pictures of diseased lungs were pretty gross."

3. BE AWARE OF THE CONSEQUENCES of your behavior.

   "My parents may smell cigarette smoke on me and I'll get in trouble."
   "I could get caught smoking and end up in detention this weekend."

4. HAVE ALTERNATIVES for the situation.

   "You wanna play basketball?"

5. WALK AWAY from the situation.

   "I have to be somewhere - I'll see you later."

Avoiding Triggers to Smoking

For some people, quitting smoking is so difficult that it is easier for them to avoid situations that may serve as triggers to smoke. The idea here is that you can encourage your child to visualize himself as person who does not smoke. Then, in these "trigger" situations, she can remind herself that there are effective ways to deal with each of these situations, instead of resorting to a habit as unhealthy as smoking.

High risk situations and big triggers:

• First thing in the morning
• Driving in the car
• Feeling stressed out
• Feeling sad and alone
• Talking on the phone to a best friend
• Peer pressure (it looks "cool" and all of his friends are smoking)
• Right after a meal
• Hanging out with friends

Talk with your child: Some suggestions for your child when he/she encounters "trigger" situations may be to:

• Chew gum
• Snack on something crunchy such as crackers or vegetables
• Exercise: Walk/jog, go for a bike ride, lift weights, etc.
• Use relaxation techniques: Breathing exercises, yoga, self-hypnosis, etc.
• Develop a new hobby which requires use of hands
• Call a new friend, preferably one that does not smoke

Famous People Who Have Died from Smoking-Related Illnesses

NAME	TALENT	ILLNESS
Louis Armstrong	Jazz Musician	Heart attack
Sammy Davis, Jr	Entertainer	Throat Cancer
Walt Disney	Producer	Lung Cancer
T.S. Elliot	Author	Emphysema
Frank Sinatra	Singer	Cancer/Stroke
Andy Kaufman	Comedian	Lung Cancer
Babe Ruth	Baseball player	Oral Cancer

Can you think of any other famous and successful figures that have died (or are currently ill) from smoking-related illnesses?

Intervention Options (How to Help Your Child Quit Smoking)

There are some very effective ways to help people stop smoking. Here are just a few!

Self-Help Approaches

Some books, videos, and pamphlets are very helpful, offering advice and tips on taking steps to quit smoking and reduce stress. These are available through the federal and state governments, national health organizations, and at retail stores.

Group Programs

It can be helpful to get support from other individuals who are experiencing a situation similar to yours. Such groups can be found through local organizations (for example, the YMCA, American Lung Association, and Smokers Anonymous).

Self-Hypnosis

This form of treatment can be helpful but will require much motivation from the individual involved. One may seek training in self-hypnosis from a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist, or from a certified hypnotherapist.

Acupuncture

This form of treatment is actually an ancient Chinese technique. It is most often used to relieve pain, but it has also been found helpful in controlling the physical addiction of smoking. However, it will not help the smoker to break a psychological addiction, so some form of psychotherapy should also accompany the acupuncture treatments. Certified acupuncturists can be located in most larger communities.

Nicotine Gum

This is a product specially formulated to replace the nicotine (the active ingredient in tobacco which is addictive) smokers crave when they try to quit. The gum can be used to decrease withdrawal symptoms and allow the individual smoker to progressively reduce nicotine dependence while eliminating the smoking addiction. This treatment approach has been shown to work best in combination with a behavior modification program. Such a program may be located by contacting the American Lung Association, hospitals, and other local organizations.

Zyban

This is a prescription medicine to help smokers quit the habit. Zyban has been shown to reduce the urge to smoke, as well as alleviating symptoms of withdrawal from the smoking habit. Like nicotine gum, Zyban should be used in conjunction with a behavior modification program. You will need to consult your physician about taking Zyban, and s/he can also recommend a good behavioral program in your local area.

Smoking isn't as attractive as you think. In one study, 8 out of 10 guys and 7 out of 10 girls said that they would not date someone who smokes. So, if you're a smoker, you'd better get used to kissing that cigarette!

Other Tips to Help Your Child Quit Smoking

1. Help your child to overcome boredom when they feel that they have nothing going on.
   • Having fun is a learned skill.
   • Keep television viewing to a minimum.
   • Teach your child how to experience contentment, even when things are quiet.
   • Develop a fun list with your child (that is, what is fun to her).
   • After school activities are an excellent source of fun for children.
2. Help your child cope successfully and solve problems efficiently.
   • Teach your child abouat what stress is, and help him to recognize the meaning of stress in his life.
   • Teach your child positive coping skills such as reading, music, physical exercise, writing letters, relaxation techniques, etc.
3. Help your child become aware of her emotions and how to communicate them effectively and appropriately.
   • Teach your child to be open and honest about her feelings.
   • Let your child know that she is allowed to express negative emotions such as sadness and pain.
4. Help your child become experiences and well-rounded in all aspects of his including social relationships, family relationships, and school activities. Let him learn from his mistakes and move forward from these experiences.
   • Help your child to set positive goals for himself.
   • Praise your child for his efforts.
   • Respond to your child's mistakes gently and be a supportive problem-solver.

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