Smoking

Zory, Dean Introduction: Smoking is one of the largest and most consistent health risks in the US today. Each day, 6,000 children under the age of 18 start smoking. Of those 6,000, 2,000 will continue smoking throughout their lives. 440,000 Americans die each year from smoking related causes. 90% of smokers start during their teenage years. This immense proliferation of smoking habits develops from advertising, peer pressure, and most importantly, the parents. Children are quite malleable and any actions performed by a parental figure can have mirrored effects (not to mention the dangers of secondhand smoke).

Our goal to lessen or eliminate the use of cigarettes by the younger generations focuses mainly on the reformation of the adult lifestyle. We wish to consult and inform (or perhaps reinform) the parent of the general dangers of smoking and especially the effects it can have on the child. We will offer alternatives to cigarettes (BLU cigarettes, etc.) and attempt to ween them off completely. Campaigns and organizations can raise a much stronger general awareness and we may be able to petition for a change in legislature (regulation of cigarette distribution). Through the parents, the children will be able to live healthier, smoke-free lives.

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