PROTECTION OF FUTURE GENERATION FROM

HARMFUL EFFECTS OF TOBACCO

“Robby, a 26-year-old boy, lying on a hospital bed with intense pain on his face but cannot cry or
scream; the surgeries to remove cancerous tissue left him without a voice. In a cracking voice, his
mom said he was a good photographer and singer, and he even posted his surgery photos on
Facebook with a message - Let no other young people go through what I have gone.”

Robby was a heavy smoker since elementary school until being diagnosed with a
smoking-related laryngeal cancer when just 26 years old and lost his battle to cancer
at the age of 27.

Each year, more than 10 million people die as a result of tobacco use. Despite three
decades of specific health warnings, a considerable proportion of young people
continue to use tobacco; presently, more than three million adolescents smoke
cigarettes, with over two million of them being male.

According to the 23rd Report of the Surgeon General on Smoking and Health, US-
based research, substantially all first-time tobacco use actually occurs before high
school graduation; this fact implies that if teenagers can be maintained tobacco-free,
the vast majority will never begin using tobacco.

Among adolescents, a multitude of factors such as sociodemographic,

environmental, behavioural, and personal factors facilitate the initiation of tobacco
use. Youth from lower socioeconomic status families, notably those living in single-
parent households, are more likely to start smoking. Peer influence appears to be
particularly powerful among environmental factors in the early stages of tobacco use;
the first attempts of cigarettes occur most commonly with peers. The peer group
may thereafter give expectations, reinforcement, and cues for experimentation.

“Christine B., during high school, thought smoking was what all the "cool" kids were doing, and
she wanted to fit in, so she began smoking at age 16. She became addicted and continued smoking
until she was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 44. Smoking costs half of her jaw.”

Behavioural factors figure heavily during adolescence, a period of multiple

transitions to physical maturation, a coherent sense of self, and emotional
independence. Adolescents are thus particularly vulnerable to a range of hazardous
behaviours and activities, including tobacco use, that may seem to assist in these
transitions. These functions are associated with bonding with peers, being
independent and mature, and having a positive social image.
Tobacco usage at an early age not only reduces life expectancy but also lowers life
quality. There is growing evidence that smoking is linked to a wide range of
developmental and mental health issues that affect teens and young adults. Evidence
is available for mental health problems such as schizophrenia, anxiety, and
depression, as well as developmental disorders such as ADHD and conduct
disorder.

Formulation of policies to prevent tobacco use has become a priority nowadays.

There is an urgent need for education in the schools concerning health risk caused
due to smoking, restrictions on tobacco advertising and promotions, prohibition of
the sale of tobacco products to minors, and earmarked tax increases on tobacco
products. School-based smoking-prevention programs that identify social influences
to smoke and teach skills to resist those influences must be initiated for consistent
and significant reductions in adolescent smoking prevalence. Effective school-based
smoking-prevention programs are enhanced and sustained comprehensive school
health education and community-wide programs involving parents, mass media, and
community organisations.

Behavioural interventions could be proved to be effective, which involve generic

skills development in facilitating decision-making, goal setting, maintaining
motivation, enhancing self-efficacy and other smoking-specific work.

Not only there is a need for a teenager's targeted school-based smoking program,
but also a positive parenting program to help parents develop the skills necessary to
manage their child's behaviour and development. The teenage brain goes through
massive growth and development during adolescence. As a result, teenagers try new
things but do not always make good decisions. They are more influenced by peers;
they learn from social expectation; this is when there is a need for healthy
communication to shape their perspective. Parents may exert a positive influence by
explaining the negative effect of smoking, being involved in children's free time,
discussing health matters with children, and encouraging children's academic
achievement and school involvement.

“Let us just hope there won't be any more 'Robbys' or 'Christine' in the future.”