Many teenagers have been pressured by their friends to smoke. A lot of the times it is for fitting in, being cool, and just wanting friends. Teenagers are more likely to try smoking if they see smoking is acceptable and normal among their peers.
Statistics show that 90% of all smokers started as teens. That is 396,000 out of 440,000 teen smokers. Most of those teen smokers will die from diseases caused by smoking. Smoking can lead to many health risks like, Cardiovascular and Respiratory Disease. Smoking shortens the life span. If this continues an estimated 6.4 million children will die from smoking diseases. Teenagers who have at least three friends who smoke are 10 times more likely to smoke than other teens who don't have friends that smoke.
Kasey's Story
Kasey was a normal middle school student. She had good grades and always tried her best. She lived in a nice neighborhood where everyone was friendly and had a good family. But there was one thing she thought was missing. A friend. Kasey was very shy and didn't talk a lot. She felt very lonely at school after her best friend moved to Texas. She kept her school work on her mind and avoided the contact with other students for she was scared to talk to other people.
One day at school Kasey decided to go to the library to finish her work. Then a girl sat next to her. Kasey slightly turned the other way. Then the girl asked her what she was doing and what's her name. Kasey replied. Kasey helped the girl with her assignment and found out her name was Amanda. Amanda was also a very lonely girl. They soon became friends.
It was a Friday and school just finished. Amanda asked Kasey if she wanted to go to her house. Kasey thought that they were just going to study so she followed Amanda. As they arrived into Amanda's room, Amanda told Kasey she wanted to show her something. She pulled out a cigarette and lighter from her pocket and started to smoke. Kasey knew something was wrong. "Want one?," Amanda asked. Kasey was quiet and took her a long time to reply. "Smoking is perfectly fine. It won't hurt.," Amanda said. "You are so lame." Amanda said. Kasey held her hand out and Amanda put a cigarette in her hand.
Kasey was soon smoking. She smoked at least 8 cigarettes a day. Her and Amanda would hide behind the school and smoke everyday.
Kasey had been smoking for one month. One day she text and called Amanda but she didn't reply. She wasn't at school either. She didn't see her for 5 days and decided to knock on her door. Amanda's mom opened the door with tired eyes. "Is Amanda there?" Kasey asked. Amanda's dad then stepped in front of Amanda's mom and said "Amanda's dead." Kasey later found out that Amanda died from a stroke caused by smoking.
Kasey was devastated and couldn't stop smoking. She knew that she was in danger. Kasey's family got her help immediately. It took 6 months for Kasey to finally stop smoking.
Resources
For more information on teen peer pressure and smoking
http://www.livestrong.com/article/245384-smoking-peer-pressure-facts/
http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_smoking/
Kasey's Story
Kasey was a normal middle school student. She had good grades and always tried her best. She lived in a nice neighborhood where everyone was friendly and had a good family. But there was one thing she thought was missing. A friend. Kasey was very shy and didn't talk a lot. She felt very lonely at school after her best friend moved to Texas. She kept her school work on her mind and avoided the contact with other students for she was scared to talk to other people.
One day at school Kasey decided to go to the library to finish her work. Then a girl sat next to her. Kasey slightly turned the other way. Then the girl asked her what she was doing and what's her name. Kasey replied. Kasey helped the girl with her assignment and found out her name was Amanda. Amanda was also a very lonely girl. They soon became friends.
It was a Friday and school just finished. Amanda asked Kasey if she wanted to go to her house. Kasey thought that they were just going to study so she followed Amanda. As they arrived into Amanda's room, Amanda told Kasey she wanted to show her something. She pulled out a cigarette and lighter from her pocket and started to smoke. Kasey knew something was wrong. "Want one?," Amanda asked. Kasey was quiet and took her a long time to reply. "Smoking is perfectly fine. It won't hurt.," Amanda said. "You are so lame." Amanda said. Kasey held her hand out and Amanda put a cigarette in her hand.
Kasey was soon smoking. She smoked at least 8 cigarettes a day. Her and Amanda would hide behind the school and smoke everyday.
Kasey had been smoking for one month. One day she text and called Amanda but she didn't reply. She wasn't at school either. She didn't see her for 5 days and decided to knock on her door. Amanda's mom opened the door with tired eyes. "Is Amanda there?" Kasey asked. Amanda's dad then stepped in front of Amanda's mom and said "Amanda's dead." Kasey later found out that Amanda died from a stroke caused by smoking.
Kasey was devastated and couldn't stop smoking. She knew that she was in danger. Kasey's family got her help immediately. It took 6 months for Kasey to finally stop smoking.
Resources
For more information on teen peer pressure and smoking
http://www.livestrong.com/article/245384-smoking-peer-pressure-facts/
http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_smoking/
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