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Teen Tobacco Use:
In Context

Brief overview of the topic:

If you ask teens about their decision to use tobacco or not to use tobacco, many would reply, “It’s complicated”.  That is because their decision to smoke or use chewing tobacco is made within the context of many other choices.[1]

As a teen, you are probably often faced with unhealthy choices such as whether to eat junk food, drink alcohol or smoke marijuana.  You are probably also sometimes faced with even riskier choices such as whether to pierce or tattoo your body, have unprotected sex, or get into a car with someone who will be driving under the influence.[2]

The decisions you make about these things are affected by factors such as your beliefs and attitudes, your culture, the community you live in, your friends and family and even factors such as if you are stressed or feel unsafe.[3]

If we are going to truly understand why some teens use tobacco and others don’t, we need to consider all the other health behaviours and health issues that are related to tobacco use.  These are called “co-morbidities”. 

This section provides information and resources and some key facts about the following key tobacco “co-morbidities” in teens:

  • Alcohol use
  • Marijuana use
  • Depression
  • Risky behaviors
  • Physical activity and nutrition
You can do a school project on tobacco co-morbidities as part of subjects such as: Health and Physical Education, Science and Technology, Psychology, Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies.

Here are some ideas and questions to investigate for a school project:

  • Conduct a survey of your fellow students to determine some of the main factors that contributed to their decision to smoke or not to smoke.
  • What are the additional behaviours and health issues that are related to tobacco use in teens?
  • What are “co-morbidities” and how do they relate to tobacco use?
  • Is there a connection between tobacco, alcohol and drug use and other risky behaviours in teens?
  • What can you find out about the connection between tobacco use and experimentation with other substances such as alcohol and illicit drugs in teens? 
  • Does smoking really help teens manage their weight?
  • What is the connection between tobacco use and depression?  Is this a bigger problem in girls or boys?
Footnotes:
[1]
Scal P., Ireland, M., & Borowsky, I.W. (2003). Smoking among American adolescents: a risk and protective factor analysis. Journal of Community Health.  28, 79-97.
[2]
Lejuez, C.W., Aklin, W., Bornovalova, M., & Moolchan, E.T. (2005). Differences in risk-taking propensity across inner-city adolescent ever- and never-smokers.  Nicotine & Tobacco Research.  7, 1-9.
[3]
Conwell, L.S., O'Callaghan, M.J., Andersen, M.J., Bor, W., Najman, J.M., & Williams, G.M. (2003). Early Adolescent Smoking and a Web of Personal and Social Disadvantage. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 39, 580-585.