smoking
This is a story about Stephanie. When she was 16 she had her first cigarette, in the back of her friends car. Her friend lit up a cigarette for herself and then offered Stephanie one. Stephanie knew that smoking was bad for you, but everyone else she knew had tried it. She wanted to feel like she fit in. She smoked the cigarette and thought to herself, "Hey, this is pretty cool. I feel so relaxed. Two years later, Stephanie was a senior and smoking a pack a day. She found it hard to make it through her eight hour school day without having a smoke. She knew she was addicted, but liked the fact that she was part of the smoking crowd in her school. Four years later and about 450 packs of cigarettes later, Stephanie was in college, and addicted as ever. She knew she wanted to quit, but didn't think she could hack it with all the stress of college. She wished that she had never had that first cigarette when she was 16, because she wouldn't be addicted now. If there had been a law, prohibiting teenage smoking, she never would have started. According to the National Institute of drug abuse, each day, 3,000 teens smoke their first cigarette. That is more that one million annually. Despite government attempts, teenage
Health care costs could be cut dramatically. at least $92 billion each year in health care costs and lost productivity. The government has issued regulations to limit the accessibility and appeal of tobacco products to young people. A fine of that size could mean one or two paychecks. A law in Ohio that prohibits teens from smoking could prevent teens from starting, and prevent their regrets years later. It would be enforced the same way underage drinking is. They want to reach out and rebel at the same time. Those who skip class, community service, or fail to come to court, would lose their license for up to 180 days and have a warrant issued for their arrest once they turn 18. If a police officer sees a young person drinking, he or she would ask for I. Steps to control underage smoking have not helped. It's much easier to prevent youth from starting. Also, 3,000 youths have taken the tobacco-awareness course since the anti- smoking law took effect. Seems backward, doesn't it? Punishment for teens caught smoking would be a fine of up to $250, attendance at a day long tobacco-awareness class and 4 hours of community service. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking is responsible for and estimated one in five U.
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