How Does Tobacco Affect Teens

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Tobacco Use Amongst American Teens If current tobacco use trends continue, 5.4 million of today’s Americans under the age of 18 will die prematurely from a tobacco-related illness. It is the single largest cause of preventable death in the United States. In recent years the smoking rate amongst middle and high school students has been lowered dramatically, however, with the percentage of students who had smoked a cigarette in the past 30 days decreasing approximately 60% amongst both groups in the past four years. Scientists have proven that smoking is detrimental to the human body. People who smoke regularly show a significantly higher rick of heart attack and stroke. Smoking during adolescence can result in many unfavorable side effects,…show more content…
The toxic chemicals pollute both the soil and the water. The use of tobacco has also been directly tied to other damaging activities, such as excessive drinking and the use of marijuana and cocaine. Teens who smoke are more likely to drink underage, get in fights, and commit crimes. Statistics show that the majority of teens who do not smoke have ambitions to go to college and begin successful careers. Many teens who do smoke report that they do not intend to go to college and have no determined plans to better themselves. Teen smoking has also been proven to have a direct relationship with depression, anxiety, and increased stress. Thankfully, the government has taken actions in recent decades to protect Americans from the harmful effects of smoking. Increased taxes on tobacco, the prohibition of smoking in non-designated public areas, and increasing the minimum age of sale for tobacco to 21 years are all strategies the government has employed to combat smoking. However, many teens still gain access to cigarettes in spite of the minimum age of sale by having adults make the purchase for them. It is estimated that 1.5 million packs of cigarettes are purchased for minors

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