Even smoking just a little bit opens the door to addiction and smoking-related disease.In fact, research shows that just a few cigarettes per month can lead to cravings in some teens.
Smoking is not the norm
Did you know that nearly 9 out of 10 high school students don’t smoke?
That’s an all-time low. So even if it seems like everyone around you
smokes, it’s important to recognize that smoking is actually not the
norm.
Don’t miss out
What about people who only smoke around their friends? Some people
say they are afraid to miss out so they use smoking to fit in. But since most teens don’t smoke, you’re actually more likely to miss out if you do smoke.
It’s up to you
You don’t need to smoke to meet new people or have a good time.
It’s important to realize that you don’t need to smoke to meet new
people or have a good time. If you are worried about losing friends,
here are some things to keep in mind:
- Things in common: You and your friends like each other because you have plenty of things in common, smoking doesn’t have to be one of them.
- Agree to disagree: You have your reasons for choosing not to smoke. Your friends can make their own call.
- Social pressures: Is the pressure coming from other people or from yourself? Your friends probably don’t care if you smoke, and some might wish you wouldn’t.
- Smoking is not the norm: It’s easy to overestimate how many people smoke. Remember, nearly 9 out of 10 high school students do not.7
Here are some tips for you if you smoke and have decided to stop:
- Change your routine: You probably have patterns for when you smoke. Same people, same times, same places — find your routine, and mix it up.
- Avoid certain situations: Watch out for social situations that could lead you to smoke. Be honest with friends and excuse yourself.
- Get help: Share your plan to quit and allow others to help and encourage you.
