What attracts teenagers to smoking ?

My bro who is 16 years has been smoking since a year. He is well aware of the ill - effects of smoking and has also been hauled before the Disciplinary Committee of his school for smoking on campus. He has paid a high price as my parents withdrew him from one of the best schools in the world and enrolled him in a school nearer home. Yet, he's begun smoking again. Why?What attracts teenagers to smoking ?
1. Tobacco advertising - As is the case for all marketing, is more powerful than people think. Media ads associate smoking with glamorous role models and glamorous situations. Sponsorships of events like rodeos or Nascar associate smoking with a favored hobby. Promotions and giveaways associate smoking with winning prizes. Whether the teen is rationally aware of the marketing or not, constant exposure can produce in the teen's subconscious a powerful association between smoking and positive emotions and experiences. Psychological research has proven this connection.





2. Societal norms - This includes not only influences like peer pressure, but also cultural views of smoking (e.g. smoking is more culturally acceptable in Europe than in the US). The more your friends, family, and the society around you view smoking as ';normal'; or ';cool';, the more likely you will see smoking to be ';normal'; or ';cool'; as well. This aspect is especially influential for teenagers.





3. Teenage illusions of invincibility - Teens (and young adults in general) are in a phase of life where their health is in peak condition and hormones are raging. Thus teens have the misguided perception that nothing can harm them and therefore are prone to practicing high-risk behaviors (e.g. drug use, unsafe sex, dangerous sports). Teens who feel that they are invincible may severely underestimate the health risks of smoking. They might see these health risks as ';only happening to old people'; or they might think ';If I smoke just a few years and then quit, I won't have health problems';, both of which are untrue. In addition, teens underestimate how addictive smoking can be, often thinking ';I'll just try it once and then I'll quit';, not realizing that even one cigarette is setting them on the path to addiction.





4. Addiction - Self-explanatory. Smokers aren't dumb; They're quite aware of the health risks of smoking but find it hard to quit. As I said before, those who started smoking severely underestimated the addictive quality of cigarettes. Many smokers look back and regret their decision to start smoking. Many also bargain with themselves, saying things like ';I'll quit after this month';, or ';I'll quit after this box';, but rarely do. Even those who quit find it very hard to stay clean due to cravings that can last for years. The rate of relapse is very high.





I'm sorry to hear about your brother, but it's good that you're concerned about him. I don't know how much you can do to intervene. Though you said he's aware of the ill effects he might still feel that he isn't susceptible to them due to his youth, so you could try informing him that he is more susceptible to health risks than he thinks. He could also be hanging out with people who smoke, although I don't know how much can be done about that. Regardless, try to keep nudging him towards quitting. He'll need your continual support, especially once he quits and is trying to maintain it - that phase is usually the hardest part. These suggestions are really my own surmising though, it's probably best if you get advice from a smoking cessation hotline -I'm sure there are plenty out there. Best of luck!What attracts teenagers to smoking ?
I think rebellion is the main reason.
CANCER
The appearance of being ';cool';. It's not ';cool';...it's nasty %26amp; deadly.
Smoking is a very unhealthy habit, but it's easy to fall into it when you're young. Especially in this day, smoking is sometimes seen as glamourous and for the ';cool'; and ';tough'; people. Teens can fall into it in hopes of getting that image..or through peer pressure..either way..it isn't good. I know a lot of people who have actuallly already had to go to the doctors, due to smoking and alchohol. Teens are still so young, it's upsetting when you hear that one of your friends needs to cut down on the smokes. Anyways, your brother has probably fallen into smoking in order to portray an image..to fit in..or he's been pressured into it.
just like coke and pepsi it has been created as a style for men, mannerism of heroes, even though you are not thinking of smoking a scene in a movie or tv while the hero smokes in a style you are (especially the teen)tempted to smoke,


importantly in the teen age they wants to enjoy the life and they think smoking sex and alchol are the three main (only) ways of enjoying
it all begins with trying to fit in and then the addicion begins....when he goes to sleep...sneak a patch on his butt!!lol
It's something they have control over that is seen as an adult pastime.Unfortunately when they realise how bad they smell and what they are doing to themselves it could be to late.Cracks me up when people say i have one when i get stressed as cigarettes make you more stressed.
i started smoking at 14 and it is hard to quit, mine was curiosity and pier pressure, now its like a stress reliever when i get stressed or upset, i go and have a cigarette, if i could find something else to help with my stress and anger, i would be able to quit, i just cant find that thing
They start it to be ';cool'; that is really it or for some they will try it once and get hooked.


Many teens want to try it and see what the fuss of those who are addicted why. Sadly many get sucked into its addicting ways. My friend my age has been smoking cigs now for 2 years. She tried it and couldnt stop, i tried it and luckliy did not get addicted.


Smoking also if a person gets down and has nothing much to do, they will smoke to have something to do.