In a Puff of Smoke:
Leaving the Pack

This activity is aimed at the third of all high school students who are currently tobacco users. This includes the nearly 10% of you who report using smokeless tobacco on occasion. If you began smoking today, you are one of 3000 teenagers who picked up the habit in the past 24 hours. The numbers tell us that about 100 of you will eventually die of smoking-related illnesses like lung cancer. Fully 8 in 10 of you consider yourself addicted.

In surveys, at least, most of you (two out of three) report that you would like to quit. Three-quarters of you have tried at least once seriously. And almost as many of you say that if you could choose again, you would choose not to smoke.

If you have participated in other activities in this section, you have an idea about how your lungs should be working, what smoking does to your lungs, the relationship between smoking and cancer risk, and what the costs are. You know what some of the chemicals are in tobacco and smoke and what they can do to your lungs. Most of you know that smoking and cancer are cause and effect. The evidence is clear.

Quitting isn't easy. It takes most people two or three tries, if they are ever successful. Nicotine is a very addicting drug. But the truth is that you can quit.

What will give you the best chance of being successful? There is no one single best way for everyone, but there are some guidelines. As you read through these, think about your friends who are also smokers. Consider teaming up to support one another in your attempt. Actually, support is a big key to quitting. Look around your school and community. There's probably a group nearby that offers help in smoking cessation.

You probably know the reasons for stopping smoking:

• You'll live a longer healthier life.
• You'll have less of a chance of having cancer, a heart attack, or a stroke.
• The people around you will be healthier.
• You'll have more money in your pocket.