Christy Turlington Burns once said, “It is better to not even try it than to endure the ramifications of either quitting smoking or dying. ” This quote is relevant because when most teens try their first cigarette they do not think through the consequences of their actions. I believe tobacco use among teens in America is harmful and should be stopped. This is because of the risk of addiction, the health problems cigarette smoking causes and the possibility of premature death.
According to The American Lung Association, one third of those who start smoking under the age of 18 become regular smokers. That accounts for 800,000 new smokers annually. Ninety percent of smokers began smoking before the age of 21. These facts show that how early you start really does have an influence on if you will be a lifetime smoker. Most adolescents that have smoked at least a hundred cigarettes report that they want to quit, but are not able to do so. Regular adolescent smokers can have just as hard of a time quitting as would a long time smoker.
According to the World Health Organization, around fifty percent of those who start smoking when they are younger end up smoking for fifteen to twenty years. This proves that you do not have to smoke for a long time to become addicted, and once you are addicted it is a struggle to quit. This evidence provided promotes how essential it is for adolescents to avoid addiction. Growing up is already challenging enough without having to struggle with an unhealthy addiction. As shown by The American Lung Association, cigarette smoking causes severe health problems, especially in younger individuals.
The Essay on The Harmful Effects Of Smoking A Cigarette
The Harmful Effects Of Smoking a Cigarette The harmful effects of smoking are: Lung Cancer Smoking accounts for about 80-90% of all chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, chronic mucus secretion, and chronic air flow blocks. Smoking is involved in 85% of all lung cancer deaths. An individual with chronic bronchitis, which is caused by smoking, is more likely to get a bacterial infection ...
They have proven that smoking causes an increased severity in respiratory problems, like increased coughing and phlegm production. Smoking also causes a decrease in physical fitness, and a potential slowed rate of lung development. Both of these factors can decrease a teens overall quality of life and prevent them from living a normal healthy life. Having bad health can also set adolescents up for further health problems in the future. A decreased quality of life is not the only thing smokers need to worry about.
Smokers have the risk of a premature death as well. The diseases caused by smoking kill about 440,000 Americans per year according to The American Lung Association. If something is not done, it is estimated that 6. 4 million children will die before their time due to illness caused by smoking tobacco. It is vital that adolescent tobacco smoking must be stopped for the health of this generation, and those to come. As of now most people do not take the risk of death caused by smoking as a serious threat. Taking this issue seriously will put us on a healthier path.
In short, tobacco use is harmful among teens and should be stopped because of the risk of addiction, the health problems cigarette smoking causes and the possibility of premature death. I believe banning the glorification and glamorization of smoking tobacco products in advertisements, as well as making the risks more apparent would lessen the use of tobacco in adolescents significantly. As Christy Turlington Burns said, “It is better to not even try it than to endure the ramifications of either quitting smoking or dying. ”
