How can we help teens to reduce smoking?

I remember in college, most of my friends who picked smoking would do so in the harmless process of killing time. Being in company of other boisterous youth, full of energy, but doing nothing is the main killer.

To keep youth occupied, we simply need to provide them more outlets for energy in terms of playgrounds, gymnasiums, hobby centres and give them opportunity to engage in part time activities like national service, NCC, industrial attachments etc.

In the minds of youth smoking seems to be a cool thing. We must somehow overtake the constant symbology of showing smoking as a persona-enhancer and show those who smoke as lagging behind in most areas of normalcy before they would even bite the bait of non-smoking routes.

Hi,  

Please visit the site - http://toostep.com/insight/how-to-stop-smoking?t=smoking - where I have given effective and practical ways to quit smoking.  

For most heavy smokers, smoking has ceased to be “just a Habit” and instead turned into an “Addiction”. Unfortunately for these persons, their “Will Power” or “Mind Control Power” (with regards to Quitting Smoking only) has severely diminished. They no longer are able to exercise their “Will Power” or “Mind Control” over this action of theirs and hence are unable to come out of this addiction. Believe me, I was addicted to cigarettes for over 25 years and quit smoking about 3 years ago.  Since, only a smoker would understand another smokers plight (with regards to quitting), I have given my insights in the above mentioned link. 

Meditation, Mind Control, Hypnosis, etc., may help persons inflicted with this habit, but for hard core addicted smokers, all these (meditation, etc.) will not be of use. He has to follow the steps (given in the link) and may supplement it with meditation, hypnosis, etc. This would help to strenghten their “Will Power” to quit smoking.   

And yes, Nicotine allergy (Craving or urge to get nicotine in the blood stream) does not go away easily and may be in the system for very prolonged periods (in some cases for over 10 years). That’s why smokers who quit may take up to smoking again and again. But these with steps given in the link, people would easily overcome any slip-ups that occur and would get back to their “Smoke free days”.

I think the only way is by communicating to them and that responsibility is more to the parents. First of all the parents should be aware of what their children are doing. Then they need to speak with him in friendly manner and make them aware of the harmful effects and health issues in it.

Educate them about the consequences of smoking and involve them in campaigns against smoking, this will produce desired results

This may take time but it will be effective in reducing the smoking among teens, even this will help in bringing down use of drugs among teens

When I was young, I'd like to smoke with my classmates.But once time,I got cold very seirious. And always be tired for my cough . Then one day, I found my sputum is coke yellow . I'm very scared. And never smoke again.

You cannot make the teenagers give up smoking if you are yourself a smoker. You cannot expect them to develop a good character if you are yourself running after the opposite sex.

Spiritual training is the only way to impart a good character. Today we expose our teens to all sort of rubbish and then expect them to lead a sober life! How hypocritical we have become.

The teens always try to follow the elders and every thing which they have not done will try to do by watching to others & they are greatest copier in mankind and mostly they will copy from those person which are ideal for them so we have to take responsibility to avoid smoking where teens, kids are present mean we should avoid smoking in public places.

BY SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES THE NUMBER OF PASSIVE SMOKER WILL INCREASE EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE NOT SMOKE AND WILL CAUSE CANCER OR OTHER DISEASES 

ACCORDING TO A SURVEY CONDUCTED WORLDWIDE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT PEOPLE WITH LESSER CONFIDENCE LEVELS ONLY ARE SMOKERS AND THEY BECOME ADDICTED TO THE HABIT.WHEN THEIR WILL POWER GOES UP THE WILLS POWER COMES DOWN.IT IS EASY TO QUIT TAKING LIQUOR BUT VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP SMOKING.REDUCING THE NUMBER OF CIGARETTES  IS NOT A LONG TERM ASPECT THAT ONLY HELPS IN THE SHORT RUN AND THE NUMBER GOES UP AGAIN.PEOPLE TEND TO SMOKE AND SEEK THE ASSISTANCE OF CIGS WHEN THEY ARE SHAKY,NERVOUS,AND NOT CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO FACE A SITUATION,OR A PERSON.ALONG WITH EFFORTS TO MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND THE ILL  EFFECTS OF SMOKING ON THEIR HEALTH AND WEALTH,EFFORTS SHOULD ALSO BE TAKEN TO INCREASE THEIR CONFIDENCE LEVEL.