Every year, millions of teenagers begin smoking. The reasons for this vary from person to person, but many people have a few reasons in common. Here are the 7 most common reasons why people start smoking.
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1. A way to appear cool
A large number of those start smoking because they see their friends and other people doing it and want to fit in. They may feel that smoking is a way to be part of the trend or coolness factor, which can lead them to start smoking as well.
2. Rebel against their parents
A common reason that Teens start smoking is out of rebellion against their parents, as a sign of independence.
3. Feel pressure from their friends
Some new smokers are under peer pressure. Because of this, they may feel pressured into smoking even though they are uncomfortable doing so. Peer pressure can be difficult for someone who does not want to smoke because they can feel left out by their friends.
4. Parents influence
Many smokers began smoking because they saw their parents or other adults in their lives doing it. Seeing their parents smoke makes the idea of smoking seem normal and like something that everyone does, so many children begin to enjoy smoking with their parents without even considering the dangers of smoking.
5. Stress relief
Stress is another most common reasons that many people begin smoking. For some, it may be difficult to cope with life’s daily stressors without a cigarette. Rather than having no coping mechanism at all, they rely on cigarettes for giving them instant gratification. However, the effect only lasts temporarily, which causes more stress later on until the next cigarette.
6. Media Influence
Teenagers are easy to be influenced by what they see in the media. Actors, singers, even athletes smoke on camera to appear more “cool” or sophisticated. Seeing their models smoke can make many young people want to smoke as well, and that’s why they pick up cigarettes when they first start.
7. Tobacco company advertising
Some people start smoking because of the influence of tobacco companies. Tobacco companies spend billions of dollars on advertising campaigns annually to make their ads can be seen everywhere.
