Report: Teens can get hooked on cigarettes after 2
weeks of puffing
ATLANTA, Georgia -- A new study finds that teens who
experiment with cigarettes can become physically hooked on tobacco faster than
people think. "The really important implication of this study is that we have to
warn kids that you can't just fool around with cigarettes or experiment with
cigarettes for a few weeks and then give it up."
"Nicotine addiction is not a gradual,
slow process," said DiFranza, of the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
"It's something that happens almost instantaneously in teens. Its one
of the most addictive substances."
Kids need to know: Not only is it Tougher for teens to
quit, but
cigarettes
do much more damage to young, developing bodies than to adult bodies.
Doctors also said
techniques that help adults to stop smoking, such as the patch or counseling, have
not worked well with children and teen-agers. And informing kids about the
dangers of smoking can be ineffective because many young people keep smoking
even when they know the repercussions.
Quit while you're ahead -- Don't even
start!
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