Secondary Students : A - Z Listing of Drugs : Tobacco

Five per cent of 13 year-olds smoke at least a cigarette a week. About 30% of older teenagers smoke on average 11-12 cigarettes a day, each. Smoking is also fashionable among some teenage girls who find that smoking suppresses their appetite and therefore helps them to stay slim.

Street names
Buying and using
Effects
Problems
The law

Street names

Ciggies, fags, tabs.

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Buying and smoking them

If parents smoke, then cigarettes are easily available and there’s more of a temptation to try them. Pressure from friends and looking trendy are some of the other reasons why children smoke. Most children who smoke buy their cigarettes from shops, even though selling tobacco products to children under 16 is illegal.

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Effects

First time smokers often feel sick and dizzy. One or two cigarettes increases the pulse rate and blood pressure. People are stimulated and may feel less stressed and anxious when they smoke. This may be important for some young people who feel awkward in social situations.

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Problems

It’s easy to become quickly addicted to cigarettes. Long-term smoking can result in: heart disease; blood clots; heart attacks, lung infections, bronchitis, bad circulation and lung cancer. In the UK every year over 100,000 people die premature deaths because they smoke.

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The law

Selling any tobacco products to children under 16 is prohibited. All retailers selling tobacco have to display prominently a notice about not selling to children.

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