Smoking addiction on the rise in teens

Doctors explain the causes and how parents, teachers can help

More than 50 million adolescents between the ages of 13 and 15 smoke cigarettes or use smokeless tobacco products around the world, a study by Tobacco Atlas says.

The study also raises concerns for the increasing rate of younger smokers.

They [teens] see smoking as a way of relieving stress, triggers like being in a group of friends who smoke or are addicted.

Dr Arfa Banu Khan, clinical psychologist, Aster Clinic, Bur Dubai

Why do teens smoke?

Dr Gopal Chawla, specialist pulmonology, NMC Hospital, DIP, said that social media, peer pressure and a curiosity to try smoking enables teens to step into the world of tobacco.

He added that 63 per cent of teen addicts smoke recreationally, 29 per cent of them smoke experimentally. He also said that seven per cent of such smokers don’t use conventional cigarettes.

Psychological factors

Dr Lakshmi Saranya, clinical psychologist at Lifeline Modern Family Clinic said: “The youth is the age of impulsivity and high energy levels and most of them who smoke find it as stress reliever.”

She added that adolescents tend to struggle with a sense of identity, and hence, join their peers in such activities.

Adolescents also deal with poor emotional regulation, she says. This emotional instability makes them more dependent on substances or other addictive behaviour.

Media influence

Dr Arfa Banu Khan, clinical psychologist, Aster Clinic, Bur Dubai, said that stress can be a major factor for addiction in teens. “They see smoking as a way of relieving stress, triggers like being in a group of friends who smoke or are addicted. It is mostly used as it gives pleasure to the person smoking, cigarettes contain nicotine which is an addictive content,” said Dr Banu.

Dr Chawla mentioned a study published in the European Journal of Paediatrics. “The narrative review ascertained this phenomenon and its various health effects and termed teen smoking and vaping as a gateway to drug addiction. Health-wise this leads to cardiac disorders like arrhythmia, myocardial infarction in younger population and affects lungs without a doubt. In addition, it has been seen to have an impact on cognitive as well as sexual function.”

Doctors and psychologists urge parents to be vigilant of any sudden change in behaviour. They also ask parents to keep communicating with their children and explain the harmful effects of smoking to them.

The youth is the age of impulsivity and high energy levels and most of them who smoke find it as stress reliever. Adolescents tend to struggle with a sense of identity, and hence, join their peers in such activities

Dr Lakshmi Saranya, clinical psychologist at Lifeline Modern Family Clinic