Stopping a Teen Smoking

tea_lover

As an ex-smoker I would agree that there is nothing you can do or say to convince anyone to stop if they don't want to, they really do have to have that LBM for themselves.

It's not like the many downsides aren't known, but at the time they just don't mean anything compared to that next hit of nicotine. Smoking makes people very selfish (and I totally include myself in that) and unfortunately you just have to hope he realises sooner rather than later.

Obviously in the meantime you can make it as difficult as possible for him by restricting his allowance etc.

newcook

I started smoking at a young age (about 14) I started because my mates did and I wanted to rebel against my dad!
My mom was a single parent so I used to get dinner tickets at school and sell them so I could buy cigs.

These days I still smoke but I hate people telling me to pack up – if I want to quit I will do it because I want to, the more people nag at me the less inclined I am to stop! Im actually thinking of getting an electric one as although I still enjoy smoking its getting rather expensive these days!!

Ames

My mum started smoking when she was 10 and died last year from lung cancer, age 52. She died just under 6 months after diagnosis.

Even when she was in the hospice and on oxygen she'd sneak outside for a fag. Watching her die was horrible.

What was really shocking though was when we were arranging the funeral grandad was making jokes about her starting so young and how awful it was for her to be around adults who were smoking when she had to pretend not to be a smoker.

I've never smoked so I've no idea how you get him to stop. I like the idea of the clear jar, maybe when it's got a reasonable amount in tell him to burn the cash? Maybe then he'll realise how much he's wasting? If he can't bring himself to burn it then maybe he'll stop and think.

Bluemeanie_2

Stop his money. If he can't buy them and does not have a job that will limit him. Now the age has been raised to 18 for buying them, where is he getting them?
Can't you ground him? Or is he too big for that?

FatVonD

I agree you should stop his allowance completely, if he were putting it all in slot machines (trying to think of anything else that's as good as burning money!) you'd not give it to him so the same goes for cigarettes!

FatVonD

busiscoming2 wrote: »

He smells, his room smells and his clothes smell. That's what made me suspicious in the first place. Even the fact he thought/thinks he can cover it up with body spray, its such a dirty smell IMO that it is stronger than any fragrance.

It is truly revolting. I was about to get on my high horse about him smoking in my kitchen when I realised it was just his jumper on the back of a chair.

jungle_jane

FatVonD wrote: »

he smokes outside (it doesn't seem to have affected his popularity with the girls though they all probably think it's cool to smoke too.)

FatvonD do you mind me asking - do you allow him to smoke in your home (outside)? I ask because we are wondering ourselves what the best approach is....do we ban her completely in the hopes that she will quit or do we accept that she smokes and allow her to do so as long as its outdoors...

jungle_jane

Ames wrote: »

My mum started smoking when she was 10 and died last year from lung cancer, age 52. She died just under 6 months after diagnosis.

Even when she was in the hospice and on oxygen she'd sneak outside for a fag. Watching her die was horrible.

What was really shocking though was when we were arranging the funeral grandad was making jokes about her starting so young and how awful it was for her to be around adults who were smoking when she had to pretend not to be a smoker.

I've never smoked so I've no idea how you get him to stop. I like the idea of the clear jar, maybe when it's got a reasonable amount in tell him to burn the cash? Maybe then he'll realise how much he's wasting? If he can't bring himself to burn it then maybe he'll stop and think.

I am sorry for your loss Ames. I cannot image how hard it must have been to live through this...do you think your grandad made those awful comments as a coping mechanism?

busiscoming2

Bluemeanie wrote: »

Stop his money. If he can't buy them and does not have a job that will limit him. Now the age has been raised to 18 for buying them, where is he getting them?
Can't you ground him? Or is he too big for that?

He is too big to ground completely and I can't really see the point (in this instance). He will still find ways to smoke; on the way to and from school and when we go out.

It's just a case of hoping he can go against peer pressure and use his common sense, think of himself in the long term and stop.

He needs to realise he may fit in now with his friend group but I think in the main as he gets older he will find himself more alienated as his friend/work group changes. I know of many adults that gave up eventually because of this.

FatVonD

jungle_jane wrote: »

FatvonD do you mind me asking - do you allow him to smoke in your home (outside)? I ask because we are wondering ourselves what the best approach is....do we ban her completely in the hopes that she will quit or do we accept that she smokes and allow her to do so as long as its outdoors...

He smokes outside when he comes to our house but only since his mum (who he lives with) has accepted that he smokes.

DH actually bought him tobacco this weekend, I wouldn't have :mad: I know folk are saying that if their allowance is stopped or if they're banned from smoking at home they'll still find a way to smoke but (to my mind) there's a big difference (to level of dependency) between an occasional cigarette sneaked in secret and smoking regularly.