HealthInfo Waitaha Canterbury
Smoking information for teens & young adults
Once you start smoking, it's often hard to stop. Many young people who smoke go on to become smokers as adults. About half of those who smoke regularly will eventually die from a smoking-related disease.
Clearly, it's best never to smoke at all. But stopping smoking if you've already started is the next best thing.
It's often hard to stop smoking because cigarettes contain nicotine, which is addictive. When you're a teenager, your brain is still developing, and it's more affected by the addictive effects of nicotine than an adult's brain.
To find out more about the harmful effects of smoking and how to quit, contact Te Hā – Waitaha Smokefree Support or Quitline. Or speak to your GP, practice nurse or pharmacist.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Ministry of Health – Break free
A resource for teenagers about cigarettes, addiction and quitting smoking.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed May 2021.
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Review key: HIBSF-16604
