Why people smoke? When I asked them the reasons which they gave me was because  smoking makes them more alert and improves their concentration, while others believe that smoking calms them down, especially when they are feeling anxious or stressed or some are smoking due to the influence of their friends. Well its not the reason the chemicals in the cigarette (especially nicotine) have reduced the withdrawal symptoms that smokers get between one cigarette and the next. Smokers are ‘addicted’ to smoking! The health ministry says 40% of health problems stems from tobacco use. Tobacco will be responsible for 13% of all deaths in India. Studies suggest that more than 38.4 million bidi and 13.2 million cigarette smokers may die prematurely because of their addiction. Only 2% of Indian smokers quit successfully.
One of the major influences on the uptake of teen tobacco use is the glamorization of tobacco use in movies and on TV. Backed by evidence that smoking in movies causes youth to want to light up, WHO asked countries to enact enforceable policies that would severely restrict such depictions. WHO had recommended that all movies with scenes of smoking should be given an adult rating, with the possible exception of movies that reflect the dangers of tobacco use or that depict smoking by a historical figure, who was a smoker. If you go to any colleges or any clubbing areas or the places where the youth like to hangout you can find there will be at least 3 -4 tapris near these places and its not only the boys who go and smoke now a days girls also smoke in public. Every day, more than 1,200 people in this country die due to smoking. For each of those deaths, at least two youth or young adults become regular smokers each day. Almost 90% of those replacement smokers smoke their first cigarette by age 18.
Anti-smoking advertisements have the capability to significantly reduce the prevalence of youth smoking. Advertisements are particularly effective when they are combined with both school and community based activities. Youth are vulnerable to social and environmental influences to use tobacco; messages and images that make tobacco use appealing to them are everywhere. Young people want to fit in with their peers. Images in tobacco marketing make tobacco use look appealing to this age group. Youth and young adults see smoking in their social circles, movies they watch, video games they play, websites they visit, and many communities where they live.
Smoking is often portrayed as a social norm, and young people exposed to these images are more likely to smoke. Youth identify with peers they see as social leaders and may imitate their behavior; those whose friends or siblings smoke are more likely to smoke. Most people start using tobacco before they finish high school. This means that if you stay smoke-free in school, you will probably never smoke. Kids who smoke 2 or 3 cigarettes a day can get hooked in as short as two weeks. Teens who smoke are more likely to catch a cold than people who don’t – and their symptoms will probably be worse and last longer. Teenagers who smoke use more medications than those who do not smoke.Teenagers who smoke have significantly more trouble sleeping than those who do not smoke.1 out of every 3 young people who become regular smokers will die of a smoking related disease.
YOUTH into smoking is present in every society. The translations of the messages that the tobacco industry’s try to convey to these youths are interpreted as ambiguous. I would like to advice the youth that why to harm your body, there is only one life, so live a healthy life or if you wanna suffer in future then go ahead smoke and enjoy with your friends and I am pretty much sure you will regret later for not controlling yourself.
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