| Talking Tobacco With Young People |
What to Say and How to Say it: A Guide For Adults
Talking with young people about the dangers of tobacco, and convincing them not to use it, can be tough. What should you say? How should you say it? These TEN tips will help you get started.
1. Talk About the Real Facts
Just saying "Smoking is bad for you", or telling them to "Just say no", is not enough. Young people are more likely to listen if you give them specific facts. For example, tell them:
- Tobacco contains 43 known cancer causing chemicals.
- Cigarettes contain Arsenic (deadly rat poison).
- Smoking kills more Americans every year than murders, fires, alcohol, suicides, AIDS, and car accidents combined!
- Get the facts about chewing tobacco too. (Here's one fact: 16% of high school males chew tobacco.) More and more young people mistakenly believe that it is safer than smoking.
Bring up the subject when you see things about smoking on TV, in newspapers or magazines.
Talking can happen naturally when you spend time hanging out with kids. Take a walk, play a game of basketball, or go out for ice-cream.
The sooner you start talking, the better.
3. Focus on the Social Issues
Young people are often more concerned about the smell in their hair, clothes, and breath than about health risks.
Help them understand the social and financial costs as well as the health damage.
Remind them that most young people don't smoke or chew.
4. Look at Advertising
When you see ads, talk about how tobacco companies need to attract new smokers (because thousands of smokers quit or die each day!)
Ask kids to think about the ways that ads use to sell tobacco (status, sex, looking cool, being thin, rebel image, etc..) Tell them "DON'T BE FOOLED" by clever ads, or subliminal messages.
5. SAY IT: "I Don't Want You To Smoke."
Be direct. They'll appreciate your honesty and guidance.
Are you worried about their health? The money they'll waste? Poor grades? Poor sports performance? Missed opportunities? Trouble-bound friends?
6. "You Smoke, So Why Can't I?", "Grandpa Smokes, And Nothing Bad Happened To Him"
Kids may say things like these.
Answer their questions honestly. Sample responses:
- "Smoking is the worst decision I ever made in my life",
- "Giving up smoking is very hard",
- "I don't want you to become addicted like I am"
Say "Let's practice saying no to tobacco. Pretend I'm a classmate who is asking you to try a cigarette."
Have them practice saying no in different ways, under varying situations.
Examples: "No way!", Make a joke, walk away.
Praise their efforts.
8. Trust Them to Make Good Decisions!
Acknowledge the peer pressure they may feel to try tobacco.
Say: "I trust you to make good choices when you are around tobacco."
Encourage their interests in sports, art, music and other activities.
Youth are less likely to try tobacco if they are busy with other things.
9. If They Have Already Tried Tobacco
Talk about addictions and how hard it is to stop once addicted.
Stress the fact that they should quit before they are hooked for life.
If they are regular smokers, encourage them to quit. Look into the various methods available to quit smoking. Then support them in their efforts.
10. Be a Good Role Model
Role model good habits by not using tobacco yourself. Remember, kids learn from adults.
If you smoke or chew tobacco and have tried to quit, try again. It often takes several tries to quit for good.
DO NOT smoke around young people.
Let them know you value their well-being too much to risk the dangers of second-hand smoke. Also let them know you would not wish smoking addiction on your worst enemy.
Ask others who smoke to do it outside or away from your kids.
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