Most people who smoke start when they are teenagers. Teens with friends or parents who smoke are more likely to start smoking themselves. Many teenagers say they tried smoking because they wanted to see what it was like or thought it looked "cool."
The tobacco industry also has a big impact. The Indian cigarettes market size was INR1,307.7 billion ($16.6 billion) in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 3% from 2022 to 2027. They spend billions of dollars every year on ads, discounts, and promotions to make smoking seem exciting, glamorous, and safe. Smoking is shown in movies, web series, video games, and on TV, which influence young people. Studies show that teens who see smoking in movies are more likely to start smoking.
Hooka, E-cigarettes, and other trendy vaping devices are another reason people start using tobacco. These devices are often mistakenly thought to be harmless and are easier to get than regular cigarettes. They help new users learn how to inhale and get addicted to nicotine, which can lead to smoking regular cigarettes later on.
Who is Most Likely to Get Addicted?
Anyone who starts using tobacco can get addicted to nicotine. Studies show that smoking usually becomes a habit during the teen years. The younger you are when you start smoking, the more likely you are to get addicted to nicotine.
Is Smoking Tobacco Really Addictive for Teenagers?
Yes, smoking tobacco is addictive. Addiction means repeatedly using a substance even when it causes harm. It's a mental or emotional dependence. Nicotine, the addictive substance in tobacco, makes many users addicted when they use tobacco products regularly. Nicotine is a natural drug in tobacco and is believed to be as addictive as heroin or cocaine.
Effects of Nicotine on Teenage Bodies: A Simple Explanation
Nicotine and other chemicals in tobacco smoke go into your blood when you breathe it in. Nicotine spreads quickly throughout your body.
When you use a little nicotine, it can make you feel good and forget about bad feelings. This makes you want to use more. Nicotine affects your brain and mood, acting like other addictive drugs by making your brain's reward system busy with a chemical called dopamine. It also gives a bit of a rush, making your heart beat faster and raising blood pressure.
Nicotine reaches your brain fast when you smoke, but its effects wear off after a short time. You might start feeling upset or restless, but smoking again makes those feelings go away. If you wait too long to smoke again, you might feel worse.
Your body gets used to nicotine, so you need more to feel the same. This is called tolerance. People who smoke can become dependent on nicotine and have a hard time quitting. They might feel irritable, and nervous, get headaches, or have trouble sleeping when they try to stop. Even though they know smoking is bad for them, they might keep doing it.
The amount of nicotine in one cigarette can vary, but it's usually about 1 to 2 milligrams. How much nicotine you actually get depends on how you smoke.
Why Quitting Tobacco is Hard
Stopping tobacco can be tough because your body and mind miss nicotine. When you quit, you might feel physically and mentally different. Your body might react because it's used to nicotine. You might feel like you're losing a friend because tobacco is a habit.
If you've been using tobacco for a while and suddenly stop or use less, you might feel withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms aren't dangerous, but they can be uncomfortable. They usually start a few hours after quitting, peak after a couple of days, and can last for weeks. But they get better the longer you stay tobacco-free.
Symptoms of nicotine withdrawal include dizziness, depression, frustration, anxiety, trouble sleeping, concentration problems, restlessness, headaches, tiredness, increased appetite, weight gain, slower heart rate, constipation, coughing, and chest tightness. These symptoms can make you want to use tobacco again to feel better.
Conclusion
In summary, we've explored why teenagers start smoking and how nicotine can hook them. From what pushes someone to try smoking to how nicotine messes with the brain, we've seen how tough it is to quit. Despite the tough road ahead with withdrawal symptoms and habits, there's hope. Understanding the challenges of quitting can give people the strength to break free from nicotine's grip and lead healthier lives.
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