Percent in the U.S: Do you know how many Americans smoke? Do you know how the number of smokers keeps growing? 42.1 million people smoke an more join this number every day. In 2008, 18.3% of women in the United Sates were smoking along with the 23.1% of men in the United States. Since then, the percent of smokers have been going down. 42.7% of the smokers made a quit attempt and 68.9% wanted to stop smoking. On the graphs, this shows the change happening. Over the past 40 years the percent of smokers cut in half! Still, many smokers remain. The cause of these remaining smokers is that 26.1% of the population who die is caused by smoking. 68% of the smokers start smoking at the age of 18 or younger. This is an issue for the future generation. 17% more of the smokers started between 19-21 years of age.
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Peer Pressure:Peer Pressure. Kids who might try to be popular can get mixed into the wrong crowds or drawn to smoking thinking it makes them cool. The kids think past the bad things that could come from smoking like death or diseases. The kids could only think of how smoking could make them popular. Nicotine is the addictive substance in cigarettes. This will make them want more instead of just a one time thing. Kids could also pick this up from elders such as your Father or Grandmother. If they do it it can’t be bad right? Wrong just because someone you know does this does not make that right. If they have to have oxygen tanks and have trouble breathing that is most likely not a very good sign. If people ask you if you want a cigarette it is best to turn it down. Smoking may be interesting or fun, but it can and will kill.
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Health problemsDo you know the risks of smoking? I bet you don’t. More than 16 million Americans suffer from a disease caused by smoking.The most common diseases are:
Here are some facts about Smoking:
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Children smokingRemember yesterday? 3,000 kids under 18 tried their first
cigarette. More than 1,000 kids will become avid smokers. Of the kids who started smoking yesterday 1,000 of them will die from diseases caused by smoking because they wanted to try something new and cool. 20,000 out of 100,000 15 year old smokers will prematurely die from smoking. If someone starts smoking at 13 years old it will be harder for them to quit than if they start at 21. If you start at 13 you are more likely to die earlier. Smoking can also affect the way you perform in sports, and daily activities even climbing stairs could become hard for you. Your appearance can change for the worse. You get more zits, you grow facial hair (girls), teeth fall out, skin wrinkles at a young age and gum disease. You won’t be able to sleep which will affect your performance in school and many, many other things. Another terrible thing? Teen smokers are more likely to have anxiety attacks and depression disorders. If you smoke you have a chance to get involved with drugs, which will give you a criminal record. Which will have a long term outcome on your life. You will get your license taken away, turned down from jobs you want, you will probably be a social outcast. Come on guys you don’t want this to happen, so stop smoking today! |