Attitude of Adolescents for Smoking

Abstract

“Death from smoking is increasing alarmingly in developed Countries as the cigarette companies’ shift their marketing to the
poorer parts of the world. In a report prepared by the World Health Organization back in 1990, it was revealed that as compared to the
anticipated ratio of life-losses resulting from smoking in 1990s i.e. one million a year, the losses may increase up to seven million within
two to three decades”. In perspective of the above, it was noticed with a great deal of concern that unfortunately the trends of smoking,
specifically among adolescents are notably increasing. To find out the reasons, and to determine the awareness level of the harms of
smoking, a study was initiated in the southern districts of KPK Pakistan. It was presumed that easy access to smoking materials, lack of
proper education, prevailing environment and some socio-cultural as well as psychological factors are responsible of smoking among
adolescents. 12-19 years of age group was selected for the study. It was concluded that peer group pressures and friends play all
important roles in the initiation of smoking whereas home environment and smoking habits of parents and siblings were also found to be
important determinants in this respect. Free access of adolescents to smoking & allied material was also found to be a significant cause
of smoking initiations while the status and living standards and other factors are playing very vital role in this regard. The study revealed
that considerable chunk of the adolescents start smoking for the sake of fun as well. The study on the other hand revealed that
adolescents are not adequately aware of the harms of smoking. A very meager collocate of the sampled population recognized few
harms of smoking but on the whole the level of awareness was found as dissatisfactory by any means.