Butting in on province’s top health issue

Smoking is Ontario’s number one health problem. Smoking cessation and prevention has been recognized as one of the most important interventions to prevent disease.

It is known that children and youth are a large market targeted by the tobacco industry to start smoking. It is also known that once teens start, they will continue to smoke and die from a disease that can be prevented if they choose not to start.

Parents can have an effect on whether kids smoke or not. Kids learn from facts on smoking, and information offered by parents who are knowledgeable in this area may save the kids’ lives.

There are many reasons why kids want to try smoking. Some think smoking looks cool or grown-up. Kids under 10 have a strong moral view of life. This is a good time to educate them on the negative health effects of smoking. Talking to kids about such issues will support open communication opportunities when issues like smoking come up in their lives.

When kids are entering Grade 7 and 8, smoking opportunities might present themselves, or by the time they are in high school, in a new social situation, many just want to fit in. For some, this is the only opportunity needed to try “just one.”

Stressful situations for teens — a new school, hormonal influences, being accepted or not at home or school, having a good support system available to them, having respect at home with fair rules, who they hang out with, and if there is idle time in their lives — can all play a role.

But in order to talk to your kids, you need to have information.

Firstly, smoking decreases life by 15 years. For every 1,000 20-year-olds who smoke, 500 will die from tobacco-related illnesses.

Tobacco smoke contains 4,000 chemicals, including 50 that will cause cancer.

Smokers rarely begin smoking after the age of 20.

Lung cancer risk in smokers is one in six compared to one in 77 for non-smokers.

People who are addicted to hard core drugs often start by smoking first. They also say it’s harder to stop smoking then to get clean from drugs.

Smoking causes a separation from teens and others who do not smoke, therefore decreasing opportunities for many. At the same time, they become connected with a smoking social group, where they fit in no matter what, with whom they trade and owe cigarettes to, supporting a business relationship of building friendships.

So what can you do? Educate your kids on the negative health effects and smoking-related illnesses. Encourage friendships with non-smokers if possible. Encourage involvement in sports. Most athletes do not smoke.

Make your home smoke free. Be involved with your kids, what they do, and where they go. Make sure your home is yours — yes, even their rooms belong to you while they live there. You have the right to look there any time. They might want respect, but if they are disrespecting their own body, it is your responsibility to make sure they are protected.

Remember, smoking can be the beginning of the use of other drugs, so know what is going on in your kids' lives. Be a parent, not a friend — that time will come later.

Karen Hourtovenko, RN(EC), is a health and wellness consultant from Sudbury who writes columns about healthy living for Northern Life. This is the third in a series of three columns about smoking.