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Effects of Smoking on Youth in Society
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Every year there are more and more people using cigarettes and unfortunately cigarettes are responsible for many deaths not only in adults but also among our youth. Tobacco has affected every area in our society. This is one of the biggest problems in our country and in the rest of the world. “Over three million adolescents smoke cigarettes and over one million adolescent males currently use smokeless tobacco. Tobacco use remains the leading cause of death in the United States, causing more than 400.000 deaths each year and resulting in more than $50 billion in direct medical costs. More than 3,000 teenagers and children begin smoking every year” claims the Surgeon General in his report ‘Preventing Tobacco Use Among Young People’ (p,6) 1994. I am going to give my point of view about smoking and explain the consequences of smoking based on my research. I think that there are two main, powerful influences that entice people to use cigarettes: friends and advertising. “Over 50 percent of teens report smoking their first cigarette with a friend”, according to Robert Wood Johnson in his article called ‘Youth Access to Tobacco’ in 1995. In my opinion tobacco advertising increases young people’s risk of smoking by implying that smoking has social benefits. “The tobacco industry spends $5.2 billion a year on advertising to convince young people they should take up smoking. About 85 percent of adolescent smokers prefer either Marlboro, Newport or Camel, the three most heavily advertised brands” states Robert Wood Johnson in his article called Youth Access to Tobacco in 1995. Currently very few people begin to use tobacco as adults. Virtually all initial use occurs by the time people graduate from high school. Many of the teenagers start smoking because they think it makes them look cool. “Tobacco use primarily begins in early adolescence, typically by age 16. At least 3.1 million adolescents and 25 percent of 17 and 18 year-olds are current smokers.
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