Adolescent smoking: The causes, the onset, the prevalence and the associated risk factors

Abstract

The menace of adolescents smoking is something that cannot be relegated to the background. The findings of this review attested to the fact that the prevalence of adolescents smoking is still on the rise especially in Europe and the Arab world. Though the onset of cigarette smoking differed from regions of the world, while most are initiated or start to use tobacco at 13 years, some are initiated into it indirectly as early as 6 years. Social workers, counselors, and health care specialists should be informed of the actual reasons leading to underage or early age smoking, which pinpoints to environmental, peers, and family influences, social media referencing and perceived unjustified benefits of tobacco. The symbolic escalation of smoking among adolescents and kids should be addressed with a well-designed national smoking prevention programs that involve schools and families.