A teenager smoking is inevitable, now of course, this does not apply to every teen, but the vast majority are bound to do it at some point.

The starting age is only getting lower: and the issue is accessibility.

Kids have their ways to get them for themselves, and for others. Sometimes they sell them to make a quick buck, which gives them the incentive to get more kids hooked on it.

Peer pressure plays quite a role here as well as societal “norms,” when you walk into high school for the first time and see a bunch of kids taking a hit, hiding behind their chromebooks, or you walk into a cloud of smoke in the bathroom. To some, it may feel like they have to be a part of it to fit in, or rather, look “cool” to make new friends.

We can’t forget one of the biggest driving factors: the alluring flavors that also draw in the young ones, who wouldn’t want peach ice flavored air… right? In 2024, the FDA reported that 10.1% of U.S. high school students reported current use of any tobacco product. That’s about 1.58 million kids.

An astronomical number of kids are doing something terrible to their bodies.

Every day, almost 2,500 children under 18 years old try their first cigarette, and more than 400 of them will become new, regular daily smokers. Half of them will eventually die from their habit (American Lung Association).

At the end of the day, this really is a fight against societal pressures. Restricting it is difficult; teens will most likely still find a way to get what they want. What teens need to consider is why they want it, and how to work around that, with a healthier alternative.