by David Perdew
Okay, I admit it.
I'm a radical anti-smoker. When Atlanta, GA, passed a
ban on smoking in public places in 2005, I cheered. I'm
one of those guys who will leave a restaurant rather
than take a seat in the smoking section.
A law to ban smoking in public places could save more
lives more quickly than the development of a single new
anti-cancer drug – according to the charitable group
Cancer Research UK.
The organization's Chief Executive argues that the
single most important contribution to tackling cancer
in the next decade is legislation to stub out smoking
in the country's pubs, restaurants and other enclosed
workplaces.
I even believe that smokers should pay higher health
insurance rates — plus more because they create second-
hand smoke which has proven to be just bad as putting a
cigarette in your own lips.
And then, there's the whole moral issue of tobacco
companies advertising to minors to knowingly encourage
addiction to nicotine! But I won't go there. In fact,
I'm done talking about government intervention, tobacco
company morality and health insurance premiums.
All this is important, but there's a vital piece of the
puzzle missing. In this 5-part eCourse, we'll focus on
that missing ingredient — it's the piece we each have
within our total control.
Smoking is a sign of something seriously wrong in the
family. According to the Centers for Disease Control,
factors associated with smoking (and there are many
listed in the Teen Smoking report you downloaded)
include:
* Use and approval of tobacco use by peers or siblings
* Lack of parental support or involvement
* Lower self-image or self-esteem
* Lack of self-efficacy to refuse offers of tobacco
Smoking is a cry for help. Kids just want to be loved
and accepted. Belonging to a group — whether it's chess
club, gangs, church choirs or teen smokers — is just
another way of being accepted.
How we raise our children affects their ability to
choose the kinds of groups they join. If we shower them
with love and acceptance while building a sense of
power and autonomy, we're arming them with the ability
to resist self-destructive options and make self-
affirming choices.
Over the next few days, we'll look at ways to improve
your child's chances to remain smoke free long before
he's offered a cigarette. If he already smokes, we'll
examine ways that YOU can help him quit.