Here are some common experiences from teens who smoke.
♣ They tried their first cigarette in sixth or seventh grade
♣ They often do not perform well in school
♣ They feel like they are not a part of the school
♣ They become isolated from other students
♣ They can’t perform as well at sports events
♣ They feel like they have little hope of going to college
♣ They feel like they need a job to support their smoking habit
♣ They are reported to school officials for skipping classes
♣ They start using other illegal substances
♣ They begin experimenting with alcohol and other drugs
♣ They experience pressure from home and school and use tobacco as a form of relief
♣ Teen smokers enjoy trying to hide their smoking
Despite stress being a major factor leading to many teens smoking, new research shows that smoking may actually cause a spike in depression in adolescents.
The study from the University of Toronto and University of Montreal, which was published in the journal Addictive Behaviours, says adolescent smokers who choose to “self-medicate” with cigarettes to relieve stress may create an opposite effect.
“There’s a theory to suggest what’s happening is that you do feel better after a cigarette, but that’s because you’re in a state of nicotine withdrawal (before you smoked it),” said Michael Chaiton, the study’s lead author, who is also a research associate at the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit.
