Deciding to smoke is a choice that only you can make. Whether you’re a frequent smoker or you’ve never smoked before, it’s important to be aware of the risks to your health. Here, Kids Help Phone shares information about smoking and tips for quitting.
Why do people smoke?
People smoke for a variety of different reasons. Some people decide to try smoking and then choose not to do it again and some people continue to smoke.
Some of the most common reasons why people smoke include:
- to cope with stress or strong emotions
- to take a break and/or pass the time
- peer pressure from friends or family
- to lose weight
- to look cool or fit in
- nicotine addiction
Smoking is a personal choice, at least at the beginning. If you think your friends won’t want to be around you unless you smoke, talk to them. Good friends should understand and respect your choices.
Why do people decide not to smoke?
Smoking is damaging to your health
And that’s enough of a reason for many people not to smoke. Some of the health issues associated with smoking include:
- cancer
- heart disease
- lung disease
- increased risks during pregnancy
- damage, decay and disease to teeth and gums
- nicotine addiction
Smoking can be dangerous for people around you
Second-hand smoke can cause health difficulties for those who don’t smoke but are near to those who do, including:
- coughing and chest discomfort
- lung infections
- ear infections
- asthma attacks
- cancer
Smoking has other physical impacts
Frequent smoking can cause:
- yellow fingers and teeth
- bad breath
- clothes and hair that have the odour of cigarettes
- decreased performance in sports or physical activity
Smoking can limit your activities and/or opportunities
Smoking can impact practical things like:
- your ability to rent an apartment or accommodation
- your ability to participate in social events
- where you can and can’t go (due to restrictions around where you can smoke)
Is smoking addictive?
Smoking is very addictive and it can take a short time to develop an addiction to the nicotine in cigarettes, chewing tobacco, vapes and oral pouches. Smoking can also be addictive because it may be connected to things like your daily habits, routines, social groups, etc.
If someone develops an addiction to cigarettes, they may experience withdrawal symptoms if they try to stop. This may include craving smoking, not feeling like themselves without smoking cigarettes, being unable to complete a task without a cigarette and more.
What are oral nicotine pouches?
Oral nicotine pouches were created to help people quit smoking. They don’t contain tobacco but give high doses of nicotine. People using pouches place them between their lips and gums. Some people might use them to feel a “buzz”.
Oral nicotine pouches are only legally available from behind the counter in pharmacies in Canada. Like vaping, it’s unclear what the long-term health effects of using pouches is but they can cause nicotine addiction and oral health issues.
If you’re using oral nicotine pouches and would like to stop, you can consider the same tips for quitting smoking or vaping.
How can I quit smoking, vaping or using oral pouches?
Many people try to stop a few times before they successfully quit. If you don’t quit on the first try, you can try again when you’re feeling more ready and / or supported.
Try these tips to help make quitting easier:
- talk to a doctor about ways to quit
- make a list of all the reasons you want to quit and post it in a place where you’ll see it frequently
- tell other people that you’re quitting and ask them to support you
- choose a “quit date” and stick to it
- use an app to help you set reminders and mark milestones
- quit with a friend
- join a support group or start one of your own
- reward yourself for your success
- try not to be hard on yourself if you don’t quit immediately – it can be hard and may take a few tries
It’s important to be informed about the risks and impacts before deciding to smoke, vape or use oral pouches. If smoking or quitting smoking is affecting your social, mental, emotional, physical or spiritual health, Kids Help Phone is available to offer support.
Kids Help Phone thanks Dr. Milan Khara for their contributions to this page.
