When teens smoke, there’s a very good chance that they’ll become addicted. Starting any kind of habit at this young age makes it very difficult to quit later in life.

There is a lot of peer pressure to make teenagers start smoking in this day and age. There also is a lot of media attention geared toward smoking so it is easy for teens to fall prey to these pressures.

As parents, it’s essential that you monitor your kids and make sure you know what they’re up to when you’re not around. Talk to them about how serious it is to smoke and how it can negatively impact their life and their health.

Do a little research before you talk to your kids. Know the facts and share them honestly. I’m sure you won’t find any teenage girls or boys who are interested in the yellow teeth and foul breath that goes along with smoking. You might also want to show them some pictures of lip and tongue cancer - just google it - it’s not pretty.

Stay in communication with your kids and know what they’re up to. If they’re smoking, you should be able to smell it on their clothes or in their hair. A nice little hug when they come in the door should tell you all you need to know.