Teenagers start smoking for the sake of thrill and adventure, but soon they become addicted. Some teenagers take up smoking as sign of maturity!

The recent study done by Jennifer O'Loughlin and colleagues at the Universite de Montreal found that majority of teenagers want to quit smoking but only a few can successfully quit smoking. The researchers studied data collected from 319 teenagers. These teenagers were asked to complete a questionnaire on their smoking habits every three months for up to five years. The teenagers were 12 or 13years old in the beginning of the study. The study also proved that teenagers become monthly smokers within 9months after their first puff.

From the data analysis, the researchers made out that more than 70% of teenagers were willing to quit smoking. But only 19% could quit smoking by the end of 5-year study. The researchers also showed that there were four stages from which teenagers pass under their desire to quit smoking. Researchers said, “Teen smokers make their first serious attempt to quit after only two-and-a-half months of smoking, by the time they have smoked for 21 months they have lost confidence . . .to quit.”

The researchers stated that the government should take serious steps to help these teenagers. They added that the society and parents should come forward to help these teenagers before it’s too late. The teenagers in fourth stage sometimes get depressed due to their inability to quit smoking. Such teenagers should be given moral support and encouragement to continue their effort to quit smoking.