Physical, Cognitive, and Socioeconomic Development Thesis

For example, say: "Remember Great Aunt Martha? Today was her birthday. I can't help thinking that she would still be with us if it wasn't for the lung cancer. But back then, people didn't know that smoking was bad for you. Fortunately, we do now." Seeing someone smoking is another conversation opener: "I always feel so bad every time I see someone smoking. I know that they are shortening their life, and that attractive young girl will have yellow teeth, wrinkled skin, and bad breath, soon, all because of smoking." Smoking rates amongst teenage girls have increased, partially because of weight-related concerns, so it is not shallow to note the negative appearance-related aspects of smoking.

Translating the health risks of smoking into terms your teen can understand is important. For a teen, a statistically increased risk of death from lung cancer and heart disease may be abstract, but pointing out people who have actually died with whom the teen was acquainted makes it seem more real, as if it 'can happen' to them. Underlining the fact that bad breath and skin is not cool in the eyes of other teens, as well as in your eyes, is important.If your teen plays sports (and teens who are involved in sports have a statistically lower chance of experimenting with cigarettes or picking up the habit), stressing how smoking can negatively impact their athletic performance is another way to motivate to avoid experimenting with tobacco.

One positive smoking statistic is the increased financial costs of cigarette smoking. This can be an important deterrence: showing a teen how much a pack of cigarettes a day, or even a week, can cost over time is another way to translate how smoking has many opportunity costs in terms of health, appearance, and the things the teen could purchase with the money that would be diverted to supporting a smoking habit.

Reference

Heiti, Harry. (2010, January 8). Teen smoking facts. Official wire. Retrieved February 4, 2010 at http://www.officialwire.com/main.php?action=posted_news&rid=45484&catid=1108.....