World No Tobacco Day 2018: Here's How You Can Stop Your Teens From Smoking

The adolescent smoking rates today are alarmingly high. A study conducted showed that approximately 1.1 billion people smoked tobacco in 2015, out of which many were children studying in  schools and colleges. It has been established that most adult smokers develop the habit during their youth. This is because it is the most vulnerable of all age groups. There are many factors that lead adolescents to take up smoking and as parents it is our responsibility to protect our children from the adverse effects of nicotine abuse. Here's what you can do:

1. Be a good role model
Children learn a lot from observing their parents and other adults around them. It is important to set a good example for your children. Statistically children whose parents are smokers are more likely to become smokers themselves. If you are a smoker it is best to stop smoking.

2. Educate and create awareness
Sometimes children are not aware of the actual problems and health issues smoking can cause. Make the children aware of the many hazards of smoking. Smoking can cause life threatening diseases like lung and liver cancer, various cardio vascular diseases, respiratory diseases, eye sight problems etc. Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in the world.

3. Discuss the cost
Calculate for your child how much one pack per day will cost and try to compare it to prices of their favorite foods or technology and other teen essentials.

Children are curious beings and it is this curiosity which may lead them to be encouraged to try cigarettes by their peers. Teach your child to say no and not give in to pressure.

5. Be an active participant in your child's life
Take an active stance against teen smoking. Participate in local and school-sponsored smoking prevention campaigns. Support efforts to make public places smoke-free. Your actions can help reduce the odds that your teen will become a smoker. If your teen has already started smoking, avoid threats and ultimatums. Instead, find out why your teen is smoking and discuss ways to help your teen quit. Avoiding or stopping smoking is one of the best things your teen can do for a lifetime of good health.

6. Talk about addiction
Every teenager even adults sometimes think occasional smoking does not lead to addiction and if they become regular smokers it'll be easy to stop. Teens, however, can become addicted with intermittent and relatively low levels of smoking. Remind your teen that most adult smokers start as teens. Once you're hooked, it's tough to quit!

Also Read: Top 10 Effective Tips To Quit Smoking For Good!

Finally it is important to understand your child's situation, if he/she has developed the habit of smoking it is your job as a parent to help overcome this problem. If the problem has gotten out of hand, even seeking therapy is highly recommended.