Why Do I Need to Talk to My Child About Tobacco?

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, smoking is the chief cause of preventable deaths in the United States . At the same time, however, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that each day more than 3,000 kids become regular smokers and that about one third of these children will eventually die a "smoker's death" from cancer, heart disease, or lung disease.

And the danger isn't just smoking cigarettes. Smokeless tobacco (chewing or spit tobacco) can also lead to nicotine addiction, oral cancer, gum disease, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks.

Despite these dangers, about 16% of U.S. high school boys in grades 9 to 12 use smokeless tobacco, with rates rising as high as 35% in some western states. Nicotine affects mood as well as the heart, lungs, stomach, and nervous system. Short-term effects of smoking include coughing and throat irritation. Over time, more serious conditions may develop, including increases in heart rate and blood pressure. Smoking also leads to bronchitis and emphysema and increases the risk of heart attacks.

Finally, numerous studies indicate that young smokers are more likely to experiment with marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or other illicit drugs.

About 90% of today's adult smokers started as children, so it's important that you take the opportunity to talk to your kid about smoking before she starts. Older children who haven't started to smoke are less likely to begin smoking.

"The most important way you can prepare to deal with smoking is by establishing good communication. The more you talk with your child, the better chance you have of staying close when things get tough," says Neil Izenberg, MD, pediatrician and author of How to Raise Non-Smoking Kid