Smoking and Young People

You already know it. Smoking is bad for your health.

DYK?

• If you start smoking at 15 you’re three times more likely to die from cancer than someone who starts smoking in their mid-20s?
• The younger you start smoking, the more damage there will be to your body as an adult, including damage to fertility.

OK, so that’s a long way off, so here are some benefits you get within days:

• Feel healthier and get less out of breath
  Smoking decreases your lung capacity
• Look and smell better
  Chemicals in cigarettes restrict blood flow to the skin making it more wrinkled and saggy with age. Also, most people prefer to kiss a non-smoker!
• Save money for stuff you really want to buy
  Let’s face it, there are loads of other things you probably want to spend your money on. Use this handy calculator to work out just how much you’d save from stopping smoking.

If you are feeling pressured to start smoking or want to give up:

• Our youth workers can help with info, advice and guidance.
• Get good friends and family on side and tell them that you want to stop and you could do with their help. (If they smoke, they might want to give up too.)
• Talk to your GP.  If you are aged 12 – 18 years, your GP can write a prescription for stop smoking medicine which you can then get for FREE

NHS Choices also has more advice if you want to stop smoking.