Adolescent Health: Planting Seeds for a - Society for Public Health ...

OVERVIEW
References
Raising
Smoke-Free
Adolescents
Tip sheet for parents
Tobacco use continues to be
the most common cause of
preventable disease and death
in the U.S. While progression
in youth tobacco control and
prevention has reduced
tobacco use among youth, a
significant percentage of
young people are still using tobacco. Each day in the
U.S., nearly 3,600 young people between the ages of
12 and 17 years start cigarette smoking, and an
estimated 1,100 young people become daily cigarette
smokers. 1
Additionally, candy-flavored
tobacco and smokeless
product use is on the rise
among teenagers. Many
tobacco manufacturers are
making tobacco products
that taste and packaged
like candy. “Kid flavors”
include chocolate, cherry, vanilla, apple, grape and
Can you tell the difference
between candy and tobacco
watermelon. The design of flavored tobacco makes it
especially appealing to young people, and like all
tobacco products, flavored tobacco can pose serious
health risks and lead to a lifetime of tobacco
addiction. 2 There are various reasons why young
people experiment and use tobacco, including their
susceptibility to social, physical and environmental
influences. 3 It is important that parents understand
the risks of tobacco use and the ways in which they
can protect their children from being exposed to these
risks.
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Smoking & Tobacco Use. Available at http://
www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/youth_data/tobacco_use/index.htm
2. Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (2010). The Danger from Dissolvable Tobacco and Other Smokeless
Tobacco Products. Available at
http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0363.pdf
3. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. (20122. Protecting Your Children from Tobacco Use. Available at
http://www.cdc.gov/features/BackToSchool/s_cid=fb_osh113
Adolescent Health:
Planting Seeds for a Healthier Generation
National Health Education Week | October 15-19, 2012
Tips for Parents
Talk directly to your
child/teen about the
immediate harms of
all forms of tobacco
Parents serve as the first line
of defense in making sure
their kids are protected.
products, including yellow teeth, bad
breathe, smelly clothes, respiratory
problems, a greater likelihood of being
sick, increased stress, and decreased
physical performance. 4
Discuss with your child the myth and
misleading images used in ads and
movies which portray smoking as sexy
and attractive. 4
Maintain a smoke-free home. A
smoke-free home makes smoking less convenient and
makes children less likely to smoke, even if their parents
smoke. 4
If you are a smoker, quit! Though it is not simple for
parents to quit smoking and may require extra help from
social and professional support, parents who quit
smoking are more likely to raise children who are less
likely to smoke and more likely to quit if they start
smoking. 4
Did You Know
Good parenting is not enough. There are several powerful
factors outside the home that can influence young people to use
tobacco, including tobacco industry marketing and peer pressure.
Parents can address these factors by:
Encouraging smoke-free or 100% tobacco free policies in
your child’s school campus
Supporting local, state and federal laws and programs that
restricts tobacco marketing to minors
Working with local tobacco prevention coalitions to make
public areas smoke-free 4
Resources
American Lung Association
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
SmokeFree.gov
The National Quitline (1-800-QUIT-NOW)
The Partnership at Drugfree.org
Society for Public Health Education • National Health Education Week 2012 | 44