While interviewing kids under 21, and researching anti-tobacco websites online, I have
come to a few conclusions on why young people smoke. Many young people smoke
because they see someone they look up to smoke, such as a movie star or musical influence.
Some youth say that smoking makes them look and feel cool, and that they feel they must
smoke to fit in. These two reasons are the most popular reasons why younger people
smoke. Other reasons than these include smoking to relax, and that smoking helps the kid
concentrate. To me, these reasons don't seem good enough. What is wrong with walking
on the beach to relax? Or what is wrong with not being exactly like a movie star?
When I interviewed adults on the topic of why they smoke and why younger people
smoke, the answers were a little different. Adults that I spoke with said they think younger
people smoke so they can fit in, and be cool. The adults also said they think adults smoke
because they are of legal age, and the decision is up to them. However, when browsing
different websites, it is a fact that most of the adult smoking population starting smoking in
their teen years, about 90% of today's adult smokers.
Peer pressure is a big factor in smoking - in mostly teens, but sometimes even with
adults. Many people start smoking because they started smoking some of their friends
cigarette, and became addicted. Also, many smokers say they were pressured into smoking
their first cigarette, and they were then hooked. Adults might be at a bar, and one adult
puts a cigarette in his friends face. The friend is pressured into smoking it because he
doesn't want to appear unmanly or whatever. The truth is tobacco is extremely addicting
and people who try tobacco for fun or by peer pressure are easily hooked.
A number of studies are showing that the chemical nicotine can trigger a series of
brain mechanisms. "Ni...