Millions of Americans are living with diseases caused by smoking. According to an online source, “Teens are often exposed to images of celebrities smoking, which can make it seem cool, even though there are many serious downsides to the habit.” Smoking started between 3,000 and 5000 B.C. According to an online source, “the disadvantages to smoking are far more numerous, and much harder to argue against.” Some common effects are lung cancer, throat cancer, mouth cancer, and many other types linked to tobacco use. They are emphysema, asthma, decreased lung function, and advanced signs of aging.
Smoking is quite expensive. They cost an average of $5.51.
Pierre Percy, a STEAM facilitator said when he was young, “they had a program called The Dare Program. It kept students off drugs and alcohol,” Percy said. “For people like myself, it kept me off. For others, it wasn’t working as well,” Percy added. “So due to this program, I have a dislike for smokers.”
Andre Trellis, a student in STEAM at the Linden SDA thinks that “smoking is bad because it gives them cancer and destroys their lungs and immune system.”
Another student, Marie-Michelle Desir said, “It affects teens because it can damage their lungs and can lead to certain cancers and change their vocals.”
Faith Griffith believes that there should be a stricter approach to avoid smoking for teenagers. “There should be an age restriction and it should only be sold to people 20 years and above.”
Cara Abraham thinks “smoking is not a joke because teenage lungs aren’t fully developed. Teens that are damaging their lungs are at risk of developing unwanted diseases.
