24 Hour Counselor: I Might Stop Smoking

Hi, I'm John. As teenagers, all of us face a lot of pressure these days--especially pressure to conform. Some teens find the social pressure to start smoking especially tempting, because it seems to be the right thing to do to be a part of the groups we like.

Maybe you've felt the pressure to take up smoking. Or you may already be smoking and wondering if this is an activity you should continue. If you are bothered by this, I have someone you might like to talk to. Let me introduce a friend of mine.

Wayne Grant is a physician--a doctor who is familiar with teenagers and their worries and concerns. He works with teenagers in his medical practice, and he writes articles for a teen magazine.

John: Dr. Grant, are a lot of teenagers smoking today?

Dr. Grant: Fortunately, not as many adults and teens are smoking today as in the past. However, a significant number of teens do take up smoking. The latest statistics show about 20 percent of teens become smokers by the time they are 18.

John: Is the rate of smoking about the same with guys and girls?

Dr. Grant: In the past, smoking was a much more common habit among guys. But over the past several years there's been a decrease in smoking among guys, while the proportion of girls smoking has increased somewhat.

John: Why would anyone choose to smoke?

Dr. Grant: That's an important question. First of all, teens see adults that they admire smoking, and they connect this with a positive trait. The false message they often see in the movies, television, magazines, and particularly advertisements says: Smoking is sophisticated; smoking is a sign of maturity and status.

Teens want to grow up. They want to feel grown up. They want to feel important. If other needs aren't met in their lives, they may smoke to gain some of the sense of status and importance they want.

Another reason is peer pressure. They want to be part of a group. They see other teens smoking. Often these are persons they want to be with and accepted by, persons they perceive as having importance in the school or the group. And they are strongly tempted to take up smoking to feel like they belong and are accepted.

When teenagers don't feel good about who they, they are much more vulnerable to the temptation of something like smoking. It seems to promise status and acceptance by their peers.

John: Dr. Grant, I've heard that there is some controversy about the actual effects of smoking. And that's confusing. What's the real truth?

Dr. Grant: Without doubt, smoking is one habit that is extremely dangerous to a person's health. Research evidence which has accumulated over the past 20 or 30 years shows that smoking is one of the most common causes of early death and decreased health and vigor.

Smoking is one of the most common causes of cancer, particularly lung cancer. It causes heart disease, with hardening of the arteries and heart attacks. These are generally diseases of adults and older people, and to most teens seem very far away. But there are more immediate facts that should be of concern.

John: What are these?

Dr. Grant: First of all, smoking has an immediate effect on a person's physical fitness. It causes an increased heart rate and decreased blood pressure, which can make you feel tired and without energy. The carbon monoxide from the smoke gets into the blood stream immediately and can cause breathing problems.

Smoking can also affect your nervous system, making you more nervous and agitated, and decrease your ability to concentrate and think. Also, smoking causes early and increased wrinkling of the skin, causes yellow stains on the teeth and fingers, and it certainly causes tobacco odor on clothes and on your breath.

John: You mentioned our need for acceptance. But smoking could actually have the opposite effect, couldn't it? Couldn't it make someone less acceptable to people?

Dr. Grant: That's certainly true. The fantasy pictured in commercials and advertisements often portrays the idea that people in the know are smokers. And, therefore, it is desirable to be in that group. In reality, things aren't quite that way.

The people who are really doing great things and going places are generally not smokers. The effects on complexion and appearance, as well as the odor of tobacco smoke, tend to make the smoker less socially acceptable than nonsmokers. Therefore, the teen who does smoke may be accepted by a small group, but will become less acceptable to the larger body of teens.

We should remember that at most, only about 20 percent of teenagers smoke regularly. And that's a minority, not the majority.

John: But there are lots of adults who smoke.

Dr. Grant: Yes. And almost all the adults who do smoke wish they could stop. That's an important statement, and needs to be repeated: Almost all the adults who do smoke wish they could stop.

Most adults smokers began as teenagers because they thought it was a socially acceptable thing to do. As adults, they would like to stop, but they find it very difficult. That's why so many of them continue.

John: Why is it so hard to stop smoking?

Dr. Grant: The main reason is an addiction to nicotine, one of the important ingredients in cigarette smoke. A person actually becomes addicted to cigarette smoking. It's very similar to an addiction to alcohol and other drugs. Therefore, the process of stopping after you have smoked for a long period of time is the same as with other addictions. It can be done, but it isn't easy.

John: You mentioned earlier that poor self-image is one reason why many teens take up smoking. Can you tell us a little more about this?

Dr. Grant: Our self-image is our mental picture of ourselves. It's how we see and what we think about ourselves. It's our sense of value and worth. This mental picture we have is very important. Our self-image determines to a large extent who and what we are. We become what we think about ourselves. When teens don't feel good about who they are, when they don't have a real sense of value and worth as a person, they are tempted to take up activities such as smoking in order to gain some sense of importance and worth. Or to help dull the pain.

John: If a good self-image is so important, then how should we feel about ourselves? What should be the Christian self-image?

Dr. Grant: The Bible tells us that we all are of value and worth because God loves us. God created us individually, He loves us individually, and He has a plan for our lives. We have worth and value. We count for something because God loves us. This thought should be the basis of our self-image. We are created in the image of God. Because of this, we can have a healthy Christian self-esteem. It is this confidence which gives us a way to handle the many temptations that face us in the real world.

John: Does the Bible have much to say about smoking?

Dr. Grant: The Bible doesn't speak directly to smoking, because smoking wasn't even known during biblical times. However, the Bible does speak about habits that affect us physically, mentally, and spiritually. One Scripture is particularly applicable. It's found in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: "Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body" (HCSB).¹

That's a pretty direct challenge. We are to honor God with our bodies. We are certainly not honoring God when we do things that harm the body, mind, and spirit.

John: But if a teenager is already smoking, how can he stop?

Dr. Grant: Certainly the best time to stop smoking is now. For those who continue to smoke into adult life, stopping becomes very difficult. Every teenager needs to think about why he personally has been smoking. By looking at his own motivations, he may be able to think of some other ways to satisfy those needs.

Second, a teen needs to identify with other teens who are nonsmokers. Like any addiction, smoking is much easier and more inviting when you are around other people who smoke. Staying away from those groups and getting involved with nonsmoking teens will be very helpful in overcoming the habit.

John: Where can a teenager find nonsmoking groups?

Dr. Grant: There are plenty of those around school. One good place to find predominantly nonsmoking friends is in a church youth group. Very few of the teens there will be smokers. This would give you a chance to make friends with other teens that have needs like your own, but who are resisting the challenge to smoke. In addition, you might get involved in a service group or in scouting or sports where smoking is less likely to be a choice.

John: Is there anything else a teenager can do?

Dr. Grant: If you are trying to fight something like smoking, you need someone to talk to. It's hard to fight that kind of battle by yourself. You may want to talk to an adult who can help. Maybe your youth pastor or your pastor, a teacher, or your school counselor. They can give some of the support and encouragement you need. A trusted teenage friend can also be a great source of encouragement and support.

If smoking has become a heavy habit for you and you find it difficult to stop, you may want to talk to a physician. He may need to give you some advice, as well as put you in touch with a smoking treatment program where you will get some professional help.

John: Thank you, Dr. Grant. Do you have any last comments to make before the end of our conversation?

Dr. Grant: I've enjoyed this opportunity to talk with you, because I'm concerned about teenage smoking. I know that in some groups there is strong temptation. Some teenagers haven't been able to resist the temptation to smoke, and perhaps you are one of them. The message I'd like to leave with you is:

You are important because God loves you and wants the best for your life. Smoking isn't something that enhances your life. It really takes away from it. If you are already smoking, you can stop.

We've talked about some of the ways you can go about stopping. I hope you'll think seriously about it. If you are not smoking, you are way ahead in life. Keep it up!! I want you to become the best you can be. I know that with the help of God, your youth group, Christian friends, and your family, you can do that. You can be what God really wants you to be.

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¹Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible^® Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

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The 24-Hour Counselor
© 1999, Broadman and Holman Publishers.
All rights reserved. Compiled by Richard Ross.