6.25 Lakh Children are Smoking in India Daily, What Could be the Causes and How can you Stop Them?

A new report shared by Global Tobacco Atlas study has revealed some shocking findings about tobacco consumption in the country. Despite constant awareness through different mediums, the consumption is far from less and it is the children who are smoking more! Almost 625,000 smokers in the country fall within the age group of 10-14 years. The report also stated that more than 932,600 Indian lives are lost to tobacco-related diseases annually.

The number of children is less as compared to those in some other nations but it is definitely a thing that needs to be paid attention to. More than 429,500 boys and 195,500 girls in the country have been found to take puffs daily. With the rates of children itself so alarmingly high, the number just rises among the adults. Other than cigarettes it is the vaping or e-cigarettes which are more popular today which account 171 million people in India! These too are not safe, as they are the leading cause of mouth and throat cancers.

But let us understand what the causes are that children are driven towards smoking:

• Peer pressure: This is the most common cause of children taking to smoking. The habit of smoking is considered being ‘cool’ and there is a sense of being an adult by doing something which you are not supposed to do. Moreover, when someone is doing it, why cannot I, the attitude which drives everyone to try it at least once. Staying in a group where one or two people smoke, can turn almost everyone to smoking.
• Imitating the adults: Children whose parents smoke can largely drive them to smoke too. Children can consider it a normal behavior and a sign of maturity. They tend to take influence of the parents not realizing the dangers of the habit.
• Show defiance: Some children just love being rebellious. They love showing that they are independent and often take up to smoking as just one form to showcase it. From smoking, they could be pulled into the big bad world of the drugs too. So, defiance works as a good motivation for some kids to take up smoking.
• Influence from movies and internet: With enough access to pop culture movies, songs, series, smoking comes across as a very normal thing to practice. And after parents, if children look up to their role models then it is these series and pop culture characters.

How can you stop kids from smoking?

The findings of the Global Tobacco Atlas report clearly show that children are easily accessible to cigarettes despite increasing the age limit for tobacco. But the problem needs to be tackled. Here is what can be done to stop kids from smoking:

• First try to understand what is causing your child to take the habit. Once you know the cause you can work upon its elimination. So it is important to take your child in confidence and talk to them about it. Children get scared at such confrontations so make sure your approach is right.
• Have conversations with your child about the ill-effects of smoking. Make sure they understand the seriousness of the damage it could cause on their health as they grow up. Girls who take up smoking at a young age can face hormonal issues later.
• You can convince your child about what else and good they could do instead, with the money they spend on cigarettes. Children love gifts and toys, you can use that as a leverage to discourage them from smoking and save that money.
• If there is someone in the family who is smoking, try and restrict them too. Because chances are you child may ask the same questions about the elders who are smoking.
• Seek a doctors’ help on how you can teach your child to give up on this habit. They may become restless since they are restricted to not smoke.

Not just the children it is also important to address the problem of smoking among the adults. Smoking affects men and women differently but definitely not in a good way. We need to encourage people to give up on this habit.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 17, 2018 04:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).