If You Smoke, Your Kids Are More Likely to Smoke Too

Growing up in the 1980s, smoking was everywhere. Whether at home, a restaurant, or in cars, it seemed like everyone had a cigarette in hand. We heard the warnings in school, but it didn’t register as a major concern.

As a teenager in the 1990s, I picked up the habit myself. My dad was a smoker, and despite my mom’s disapproval, I was allowed to smoke at home and wherever I went. This wasn’t unusual; many of my friends were in the same boat. Looking back, it makes me sick. Thankfully, my dad quit smoking, and I stopped when I became pregnant. Now, I’ve been smoke-free longer than I ever smoked, and my kids have never witnessed me with a cigarette. I feel incredibly fortunate for that. Smoking now repulses me. While it’s become a social taboo, millions of Americans still light up.

According to the CDC, “In 2019, nearly 14% of U.S. adults aged 18 years or older were current cigarette smokers, amounting to approximately 34.1 million adults.” Furthermore, over 16 million Americans suffer from smoking-related diseases. This is a staggering number, and it highlights the need for change. A recent study from the UK revealed that smokers are inadvertently passing this habit to their children.

The BBC reported that The Better Health Smoke Free campaign found that 4.9% of teenagers with smoking parents have started smoking, compared to just 1.2% of teens whose parents do not smoke. This statistic is shocking. Why is this behavior being passed down? Smokers often exhibit a more permissive attitude, acknowledging their own addiction while overlooking the risks for their children.

Eye-Opening Statistics

Here are some eye-opening statistics from the CDC regarding teen smoking in the U.S.:

Most tobacco users start as teenagers.
Nine out of ten adult smokers tried their first cigarette by age 18, and 99% have experimented with smoking by age 26.
Every day, 1,600 young smokers light their first cigarette, with 200 becoming regular daily smokers.
In 2020, 85% of high school students reported using flavored tobacco, and 74% of middle schoolers admitted the same.
The rise of e-cigarettes has also contributed to adolescent nicotine use. In 2020, 1 in 20 middle school students reported trying an e-cigarette—a slight decrease from 2019, but still concerning. For high school students, that number was 19.6%.

Although e-cigarette use has declined, we need to see even lower numbers. With more states raising the legal purchasing age for nicotine products from 18 to 21, we are moving in the right direction.

What Will It Take for Parents to Kick the Habit?

We’ve witnessed the health risks and devastating consequences. Perhaps making a New Year’s resolution to quit smoking is the answer. Britain’s Health Minister, Sarah Jacobs, expressed her hope that this new information will inspire parents to quit smoking for their own health and for future generations. “Many people attempt to quit in January. We hope this campaign will motivate those who need that extra push to stop smoking this year,” she stated.

Adults must set a positive example. Children are impressionable and often rebellious. We need to keep cigarettes and other nicotine products away from them. It’s essential to have open conversations about the health risks related to smoking and the potential for illness and death. If you’ve battled with a smoking addiction, you certainly wouldn’t want your children to face the same struggle. For more on this topic, you can check out one of our other blog posts here. Additionally, Make a Mom offers valuable resources on home insemination. For more information on pregnancy and home insemination, visit this excellent resource here.

Summary

Smoking is a habit that can easily be passed down from parents to children, with statistics showing that teens with smoking parents are more likely to start smoking themselves. As adults, we must set a positive example and have open discussions about the dangers of smoking to prevent future generations from adopting this harmful habit.

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