The primary reason for initiation to smoking would be peer exposure, which can also be the result of media advertising. But there are other factors that lead from initiation to further experimentation to finally developing some regular use and then finally addiction. There are, for example, a variety of psychosocial factors at work. For teenagers, there's the added social aspect of validation. This is an age group specifically concerned with developing an identity, autonomy, and independence, and dealing with the psychosocial challenges of physical maturation.
Cigarette smoking is a way to instantly appear mature for teens.
Later on, the family aspect and the psychiatric aspects come in. The best way to beat smoking is to never start. This is Wigand's goal for millions of children. Whether or not our lawmakers will do the right thing and control tobacco is probably more a function of politics and economics than a sincere desire to safeguard our national health. Otherwise, cigarettes would have been regulated long ago.