| The smoking facts about the effects of cigarettes and | | | | The government of Canada regularly engages in a |
| the smoking behaviour of parents is clear. Secondhand | | | | Youth Smoking Survey to better understand the |
| smoking in children is a significant cause of morbidity. | | | | determinants of smoking and why children make the |
| Children who live in a family where smoking is | | | | decision to experiment with cigarettes. It turns out that |
| normalized are more likely to grow up to be smokers. | | | | children are more influenced by the social and |
| Harmful Effects of Cigarettes on Child Health - | | | | emotional aspects of smoking than any physical |
| Smoking Facts | | | | effects of nicotine. |
| The effects of environmental tobacco smoke are | | | | Here is what is known about the family effects of |
| now well established. Children have small and sensitive | | | | cigarettes and smoking behaviour of parents: |
| airways making them particularly sensitive to the | | | | - Children are more likely to become smokers if |
| effects of secondhand smoke. | | | | smoking is viewed as normal within the family. |
| Children exposed to secondhand smoke are more | | | | - Parents who disapprove of smoking and make it |
| likely to miss school for respiratory illness. They have | | | | known are less likely to have children who take up |
| more upper respiratory infections and if they have | | | | smoking. |
| asthma then parental smoking in the home makes it | | | | - The more people in the home who smoke the more |
| worse causing more hospitalizations and acute | | | | likely a child is to experiment with smoking. |
| exacerbations than children who do not live with | | | | - Families who view the effects of cigarettes as social |
| smokers. | | | | or meeting emotional needs are more likely to raise |
| The effects of cigarettes and the smoking behaviour | | | | future smokers. If the child sees cigarettes being used |
| of parents goes beyond the obvious harmful effects | | | | for socializing and meeting needs for love and |
| of cigarettes such as the increase in respiratory | | | | belonging then the child is more likely to ignore the |
| diseases. Parental smoking behaviour has been shown | | | | smoking facts about the harmful effects of cigarettes |
| to significantly affect the decision to experiment with | | | | and go on to experiment with smoking as a way to |
| cigarettes. | | | | feel connected to others - usually other smokers. It is |
| This decision is usually made as a teenager. Children | | | | clear that parental action and attitude has a significant |
| who live in a home with smoking parents are more | | | | effect on children and the decisions that a child will |
| likely to become smokers themselves, so the effects | | | | make about experimenting with cigarettes. |
| of your cigarettes and your smoking behaviour could | | | | You are a role model to your children. What will the |
| result in a nicotine addiction for your children. | | | | future effects of cigarettes and smoking behaviour in |
| Family Smoking Facts | | | | your family be? |