Effective Anti-Smoking Education Several essential components of tobacco prevention education have been identified. Smoking is not personally or socially desirable. Dispel the myths that tobacco is functional for stress reduction, weight maintenance, and social enhancement. Point out that the places where smoking is acceptable are decreasing. Many adolescents, unwilling to risk the health hazards from second-hand smoke, do not want to be near smokers.
Smoking takes away a smoker's free choice.
Since adolescents especially desire autonomy over all areas of their lives, demonstrate how tobacco addiction takes away free will, particularly the ability to stop smoking. Smoking is not an adult habit or an effective act of rebellion. Point out that only 27 percent of adults smoke-evidence that smoking is not a prevalent sign of maturity. Adolescents who want to rebel against those seeking to control them should resist the lure of tobacco companies and their advertising agencies, not non-smoking adults. Smoking destroys good health.