Many parents teach their kids to avoid getting involved with drugs, although sometimes adults forget about the drug most abused by adolescents - nicotine. Every year, teens continue to light up even though there is strong public awareness about the health hazards of smoking. When you're young, it's hard to think about the consequences of your actions. Kids don't project that smoking today can lead to negative effects in their futures increased risk of cancer, heart attack, and stroke in adulthood.
Many kids think they'll just try one cigarette or two or three.
These young smokers believe that they'll be able to control their habit over time. Young people may experiment with cigars and chewing tobacco, which are also dangerous. Others try bidis, thinking they are a safe alternative to cigarettes. Colorfully packaged with a variety of flavors like cinnamon, orange, and chocolate, these unfiltered cigarettes from India have 28 percent higher nicotine concentration than regular cigarettes. There is good news - the number of teens who currently smoke has gradually declined since 1996.