What's the big deal about smoking? Lots of my friends do it. Smoking is a big deal. This is what smoking does to your body:
It's a proven fact that the earlier a person starts smoking, the greater the risk of these diseases:
Smoking is addictive Some of the chemicals in cigarettes cause people to become addicted very soon after they start smoking. If you are a smoker, you'll know you're addicted when:
Quitting can be hard, and it can take a long time. The longer you smoke, the harder it is to stop. If you're already addicted, there's help available to you. Smoking is ugly
Smoking costs a lot of money Do the math: One pack of cigarettes per day = $3 Multiplied by the days in a year x 365 Yearly cost for cigarettes = $1,095 That's more than $1,000 a year that you could be spending on CDs, clothes, a car, or college. But think about this:
Do yourself a favor, don't smoke. Published online: 3/07 Source: Tobacco: Straight Talk for Teens (Copyright © 2004 American Academy of Pediatrics)
http://www.aap.org/publiced/BR_Teen_Tobacco.htm
Let us know what you think – with Facebook or a video clip or get in touch with one of the friends.
Parents: Prevent Teen Smoking
Between one-half and one-third of youth who try a cigarette will go on to become daily smokers, according to the American Legacy Foundation, a national tobacco education organization funded by the 1998 tobacco company settlement. Because of the highly addictive nature of nicotine, anti-smoking campaigns work hard to prevent teens from ever trying that first cigarette.
Parenting Tips To Keep Your Kids From Smoking (adapted from the American Legacy Foundation):
• Be a role model for your children. Children of smokers are twice as likely as kids from nonsmoking homes to try a cigarette or smoke regularly. • If you smoke, try to quit. Enlist your family's support. Seeing how difficult it is for you to quit may be enough to keep your kids from starting. At least designate your house and car as smoke-free zones. • Be aware of smoking that kids see in movies and on TV. Although tobacco companies are restricted from advertising directly to children, their multibillion-dollar marketing campaigns glamorize tobacco use. • Tell your children about the side effects of smoking. Smoking damages athletic ability and causes wrinkles, stinky breath and stained teeth, not to mention lung and heart diseases.
• If teens do start to smoke, encourage them to quit. By quitting, people can add years to their lives. It isn't easy, but every attempt should be considered a success.
• Think beyond cigarettes. Smokeless tobacco, hookahs, clove cigarettes and candy-flavored cigarettes are addictive and can cause cancer and other health problems. Many have higher concentrations of nicotine, carbon monoxide and tar than do traditional cigarettes.
Resources to Help Protect Children from Tobacco and to Help Adults Quit
Secondhand Smoke Reduction California EPA’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) OEHHA’s overall mission is to protect and enhance public health and the environment by scientific evaluation of risks posed by hazardous substances.
Secondhand Tobacco Smoke & Children's Health (PDF)
El humo de tabaco de segunda mano y la salud de los ninos (PDF)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Smoke-Free Homes This site offers a wealth of information on the health effects of secondhand smoke on children and helps families establish a smoke-free home.
Helping Smokers to Quit 1-800-QUIT-NOW is the toll-free national telephone counseling service to help people stop smoking or quit other forms of tobacco use.
Become an EX This free Quit Plan sponsored by the American Legacy Foundation utilizes a systematic program to help prepare a customized quitting plan for each person.
http://www.aap.org/RichmondCenter/childrenTobacco.html#PreventingTeenSmoking
Hey, I’m Adam
Visit us on Facebook! or email me
“We’ve created a place on the internet for you to ask the questions you’ve always wanted to ask. So take a look around, then let us know what you think about it. You might make a really good point about something, then see what others think about it as well. It’s getting involved, and sharing ideas about all kinds of subjects.”
Hi I'm Adam. I joined this web site because I really appreciate what In Search of Me Cafe is trying to do. When I was faced with tough choices I never really had a lot of people to talk to. Often I was embarrassed asking for advice on awkward stuff from my friends and family. I think if there had been an In Search of Me Cafe when I was making tough decisions it would have really helped me.
Any way enough about why I like this site so much. I have always liked to party and I love chillin’ with my friends. Obviously partying can lead to some tough life choices; I had my first alcoholic drink when I was 13. That may seem pretty young but I grew up in Europe where the legal age was 16. Yes I know... that’s still underage.
It’s true, I was underage. It’s easy to drink when your friends drink. Needless to say, from the first drink till now, I have experienced a lot. Partying was probably the best tool in learning about me which may seem strange but I really learned a lot about how I treat my friends and relationships, how I trust …you name it. Good times and bad I have gained valuable life lessons. If you ever need to talk about stuff or you have a question you’re burning to ask or if you just wanna share stories. Go ahead and holler. I won’t judge and it’s pretty hard to faze me. I’ll give you my honest opinion and you never know, you may have an experience that’ll teach me some things too.
Hey, I’m Taran
“Every teen has to face the same type of problems and try to figure out who they are. This is a place where you can do that.”
Hey, I’m Maddie
“Up until this year I was picked on a lot and it really brings down your self esteem. Kids don't think about how they're really affecting other people with their words and eventually the other kids' self esteem goes down and down and they start to believe what the bullies are saying. After a while you just start to give up and think, ‘Oh, what's the point. I suck anyway’ and your grades and everything else goes down.”
Hey, I’m Chelsi.
Visit me us Facebook! or email me
Each morning I see in my mind what I’m working hard to obtain. I know I can achieve anything I set my mind on by putting in the time & effort needed. I believe one can learn from every experience. I like to ‘take the best and leave the rest’!“
As a rule I don’t like talking about myself. However, I want you to know a little about me, the “teen” likely not much different than you and thinking a lot of the same things and having similar questions etc.
I try to treat everyone with respect and kindness, just as I would hope to be treated! Hopefully I can help answer questions you may have or concerns you don’t want to discuss with an adult… you know teen-to-teen!
Here’s a bit of what I like to do…. I love hanging with my friends at the movies or the mall, and staying in with my family. I love music, sometimes when I’m upset or “heartbroken” I go in my room and just listen to music. It just lets me cool off and just not have to think.
Although I’m only 13 on paper, I’m told I’m much wiser than my years. If there is a problem, I am the first person anyone calls. I may be nice but, if someone hurts anyone I know (whether I like ya or not) they are in trouble… haha. They call me “the haha queen” because I can make any situation funny.
I hope after hearing this little bit “about me” you want to ask me your questions, and if you just want to chat, I’d love to. I like meeting new people.
-Chelsi♥ Archambeau
“And it's now, now or never when we're chasing our dreams.” -Mercy Mercedes
“I'd like to make myself believe that planet Earth turns slowly.” -Owl City
“Do you know what's worth fighting for? When it's not worth dying for?” –Green Day
What my friends have to say About me - Chelsi♥ ……
“I like talking to you because you can always make me feel good about myself and make me happy no matter what. I like you as a person because you really are a great friend and I thank you for being there for me, and you’re just fun to be with.” -Jessie
“It’s hard.. To put into words.. The uncanny ability you have to put a smile on my face and that’s just online, from reading the nearly poetic replies. Where as over the phones it’s near impossible to explain the warmth that washes over me when I hear your voice. For some reason when I heard you for the first time. Chelsi you inspired my first poem I wrote … -Sean
Hey, I’m Brittany
“When people go to parties just to hang out, other people come and bring drinks or cigarettes, and try to get you to do it. They keep trying and trying to get you to drink or smoke, and you might be tempted do it because you want to be known as a cool person.”
Hey, I’m Trent
“I have cousins my same age and younger who are Haitian and Filipino, which allows me to connect with other cultures. Even with different styles and different issues, these other teenagers still have some of the same dramas we have here in America, such as peer pressure.” Hey, I’m Trent
Hey, I’m Forrest
“You can post video blogs on this site -- voice your opinions about topics here as well as responses to what others are saying in their blogs. So it kinda builds upon itself.”
Hey, I’m Connor
Hi, I’m Connor Cottle. I’m 17 and a junior at Fernandina Beach High School in northeast Florida. As an only child, my friends are really important to me, so I’m either hanging out with them or texting them when we’re apart.
I spend my free time on the tennis court, the golf course, and at the beach. I volunteer frequently around my community and enjoy every minute of it.
I am also the Lead Youth Advisor of the In Search of Me Café program and I’m involved because I like how connecting teens all over the world can help them help themselves.
I’m always around if you need any advice or if you just want to hang out.