Kids & Parents
What is tobacco?
- Tobacco (tuh-bak-oh) is sometimes smoked as cigarettes, pipes, and hookah.
- Tobacco can also be smoke-less, like chew and snuff.
- Tobacco has the chemical nicotine (nik-uh-teen) in it, which is very addictive.
- Nicotine is what makes it hard to quit using tobacco.
- Nicotine and other chemicals in tobacco cause a lot of diseases, such as cancer.
- These diseases can be deadly.
You can do it!
There are many reasons not to start using tobacco:
- Smelly clothes and hair.
- Bad breath.
- Yellow teeth.
- More colds.
- Difficulty playing sports.
- Other kids won’t want to hang out with you.
- No money – it costs a lot of money to buy tobacco.
- Diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
There are lots of better things to do than use tobacco:
- Play a sport.
- Join a club.
- Hang out with your friends.
- Go shopping.
- Go to the movies.
- Walk your dog.
- Read.
- All the other things you like to do!
You can also help a friend or family member quit using tobacco. You can say that tobacco use:
- Is bad for their health.
- Expensive.
- Causes smelly hair, clothes, breath, cars, and furniture.
- Is against the law to buy if they’re under 18.
- Can be stopped, and there’s help. Ask them to visit www.GetHealthyWashoe.com
Q & A (kids)
Q: Why do kids get hooked on tobacco in the first place?
A: Tobacco companies, also known as “Big Tobacco,” need to replace smokers who quit or die. They want to replace these smokers with kids like you, and they’ll do anything to get you hooked. You might see them at events you attend, and they may even try to give you some tobacco for free. You may also see tobacco in magazine ads, at your grocery store, or even in movies. Don’t be fooled. Tobacco is not cool! The good news is that most kids today don’t use tobacco at all!
Q: What do I do if a kid at school wants to give me a cigarette or some chew?
A: It’s easy to get hooked on tobacco, so don’t even try it. Instead, simply say “no thank you” or “No, I don’t want to smoke because it’ll make me sick.” You can suggest hanging-out without tobacco or just walk away.
To learn more, go to:
Parents
Talking to your kids about tobacco
The most important thing you can do is to talk with your child early and often about tobacco use and its harmful effects.
- Teach your child about ways to refuse tobacco.
- Discuss the false glamorization of tobacco in sports, movies, TV, and magazines.
- If you smoke or used to smoke, talk to your child about your experience.
You can do it!
Help your child quit. If your child has already started, help them kick the habit by:
- Showing your interest in a non-threatening way. Try to avoid ultimatums.
- Asking a few questions to find out why your child is using tobacco, and what changes can be made to help your child stop.
- Making a list with your child of the reasons why he or she wants to quit, and have them set a quit date.
- Being supportive. Both you and your child need to prepare for the mood swings and crankiness that can come with nicotine withdrawal.
- Teaching your child the “5 Ds” to get through the tough times:
- Delay: The craving will eventually go away.
- Deep breath: Take a few calming deep breaths.
- Drink water: It will flush out the chemicals.
- Do something else: Find a new, healthy habit.
- Discuss: Talk about your thoughts and feelings.
- Seek support for your child at Smoking Cessation Opportunities in Washoe County
- Give your child a healthy award when he or she quits.
Quit for your kids. If you smoke, your children are twice as likely to become smokers as well. So the best thing you can do is to quit.
- Write down all of the reasons why you want to quit, and refer to this list when you have a craving.
- Set a quit day, and create a quit plan.
- Tell your family, friends, and co-workers that you will be quitting.
- Remember the “5 Ds” to help you get through the cravings:
- Delay: The craving will eventually go away.
- Deep breath: Take a few calming deep breaths.
- Drink water: It will flush out the chemicals.
- Do something else: Find a new, healthy habit.
- Discuss: Talk about your thoughts and feelings.
- Get support at http://www.washoecounty.us/health/cchs/stopsmoking.html
- Until you are tobacco-free, do not use tobacco in your children’s presence. Don’t offer it to them or leave it where they can easily get it.
- If you have tried to quit before, remember that quitting takes practice.
Q & A (parents)
Q: What is secondhand smoke, and how can I protect my family from it?
A: Secondhand smoke is a combination of smoke from a burning end of a cigarette and the smoke exhaled by a smoker. Secondhand smoke contains numerous harmful chemicals, which cause cancer. Children are especially sensitive to secondhand smoke. Children who live in homes where people smoke:
- Get sick more often.
- Have a higher number of ear infections.
- Are more likely to develop asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
- Are at a higher risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
To protect your child, make your home and car smoke-free. If you smoke, seriously consider quitting. In the meantime, smoke only outside away from vents, windows, and doors. Only take your children to public places that do not allow smoking.
Q: I know my smoking is unhealthy for me and my kids, but I can’t imagine quitting. How do I even get started?
A: If you smoke, your children are twice as likely to become smokers as well. So the best thing you can do for them - and for yourself - is to quit. Quitting is really hard, but there are some things you can do that will help:
Write down all of the reasons why you want to quit, and refer to this list when you have a craving.
- Set a quit day, and create a quit plan.
- Tell your family, friends, and co-workers that you will be quitting.
- Remember the “5 Ds” to help you get through the cravings:
- Delay: The craving will eventually go away.
- Deep breath: Take a few calming deep breaths.
- Drink water: It will flush out the chemicals.
- Do something else: Find a new, healthy habit.
- Discuss: Talk about your thoughts and feelings.
- Get support at Smoking Cessation Opportunities in Washoe County
- Until you are tobacco-free, do not use tobacco in your children’s presence. Don’t offer it to them or leave it where they can easily get it.
- If you have tried to quit before, remember that quitting takes practice.
