Physiological and Psycho-social Effects of Adolescent Smoking

The habit of smoking and nicotine addiction are fast catching on among children and adolescents. Commonly viewed as a rite of passage by many adults, experiments in adolescent smoking often turn into a lifelong addiction to nicotine or, at best, regular smoking. The initial discomfort caused by smoking is soon overcome and adolescents often turn to smoking for relaxation as well as stimulation. They also tend to use it as a coping mechanism. Nicotine addiction can happen even after a few cigarettes.

Physiological effects of adolescent smoking

Some studies indicate that one out of every six children in Europe will pick up smoking, even though the deadly effects of tobacco consumption are widely-publicized and well known. A large number of these children are likely to succumb to a fatal, smoking-related disease. The autopsies of adolescent smokers show pathological changes in their lungs. Greater dysfunction in the small airways and respiratory symptoms are usually observed. As a society, we need to understand that the years of productivity that are lost, human suffering, as well as the care that individuals afflicted with chronic diseases need, cannot even be measured.

Psycho-social effects of adolescent smoking

Adolescents and children who smoke have proven to be more prone to deviance, are less academically successful and their locus of control tends to be external rather than internal, as compared to their non-smoking peers. Adolescent smokers also live in peer and family environments that rank low in terms of personal control. Their role models tend to be smokers themselves, they are more attracted to smoking from an early age and are more positive about the habit. Smoking is greatly prevalent among academic dropouts. Peer influence is one of the primary causes for initiation into smoking. More than half of all adolescent smokers had their first taste of cigarette with a smoker friend. The physiological effects of smoking and social reinforcement together guarantee habitual smoking.

Champix smoking cessation

Champix, its active ingredient varenicline, is a prescription-only medication that has been designed to assist smokers to quit smoking. Champix does this by first reducing the smoker's craving for nicotine by attaching itself to the nicotine receptors present in the brain and thus reducing the onset of withdrawal symptoms. Champix then decreases the amount of satisfaction that a smoker gets from smoking a cigarette. Champix, an oral pill, uses these dual techniques to wean a confirmed smoker. Champix, however, is prohibited for those under the age of 18 years. Adolescence is a period of major hormonal changes in the body and the side effects of Champix may be intensified in adolescents. The side effects may include psychological symptoms like depression, tension, anxiety, nervousness, suicidal thoughts and fluctuating moods.

Smoking cessation for adolescents

Like Champix, most medications for smoking cessation are prescribed for people who are above the age of 18. Health education as well as de-addiction programmes, targeted specifically at adolescents, can help impart essential life skills to manage negative social influences as well as peer pressure. Prevention programs along with tobacco control legislation like price or sales control, creation of more non-smoking areas, etc. can lower the overall rate of adolescent smoking.

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