Is Your Child's Future Going Up In Smoke?
TRUE LOVE Magazine East Africa|July 2017

Your teenager has started smoking, and you are worried about his health. Just how should you tackle it? Psychologist CHRIS HART has some down-to-earth answers.

Chris Hart
Is Your Child's Future Going Up In Smoke?

Eeryone accepts that society should discourage smoking, because of its wellestablished health risks. One of the most ideal solutions would be to persuade existing smokers to quit. But it’s obviously far better to prevent people starting in the first place. And that starts with teenagers, because 90 per cent of smokers start at 18 years. And the younger people are when they start smoking, the harder it is for them to quit.

THEY WANT TO BE ‘COOL’

Today’s teens have access to health information like never before. But alongside all the warnings about the dangers of tobacco, there are also subtle messages that smoking is cool, edgy and adult.

It helps that governments are discouraging tobacco advertising, making tobacco more costly, and trying to make smoking seem socially unacceptable rather than the norm. But most anti-smoking campaigns, and public health messages about tobacco, have exactly the wrong effect on teenagers. Because discouraging smoking and telling teenagers that it’s bad for them only make it seem even more desirable.

Tell a teenager not to do something, and instantly that seems like the best idea since sliced bread, even if they had never thought of it before. That’s because they are naturally rebellious. Messages warning kids against peer pressure actually end up sounding to them like, ‘Smoking makes you look cool, attractive and rebellious.’ Others just want to seem older, edgier, or more confident than they really are.

Teens and young adults also highly value being ‘in’ with their group. So if their peers smoke, they’re much more likely to start themselves.

Teenagers are also much more likely to smoke if they see their family using tobacco or misusing alcohol, especially brothers and sisters, or if they or their friends are not doing well in school.

TALK AT THE DINNER TABLE

Denne historien er fra July 2017-utgaven av TRUE LOVE Magazine East Africa.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra July 2017-utgaven av TRUE LOVE Magazine East Africa.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA TRUE LOVE MAGAZINE EAST AFRICASe alt
RADIO HEADS
TRUE LOVE Magazine East Africa

RADIO HEADS

Known for their pleasant voices and eloquent English, Cate Sidede, Terry Muikamba and Anne Mwaura open up about life on air, their personal struggles and why they love radio.

time-read
10 mins  |
April 2020
WHY SO INSECURE?
TRUE LOVE Magazine East Africa

WHY SO INSECURE?

Creating false realities inside your head based on assumptions is highly likely in any relationship. PRISCILLA WAIRIMU says acknowledging this is a problem is the first step in the right direction.

time-read
2 mins  |
April 2020
TOGETHER, APART
TRUE LOVE Magazine East Africa

TOGETHER, APART

Are you in a long-distance relationship? Are you tired of hearing all the messages of doom from people who swear your relationship is bound to fail? ALISON SIFUMA shows you how to foster your connection despite the space between.

time-read
5 mins  |
April 2020
THE BEAT KILLER
TRUE LOVE Magazine East Africa

THE BEAT KILLER

Amos Njenga Chege aka Magix Enga, on producing, forgiving Harmonize for sampling his beats and finally getting into singing.

time-read
2 mins  |
April 2020
THE ANTI-SOCIAL STORY TELLER
TRUE LOVE Magazine East Africa

THE ANTI-SOCIAL STORY TELLER

Muigai Mwangi aka Ndugu Abisai, 30 loves the art of storytelling. He speaks on his love for chai, his biggest fear as a writer and the Soap opera he is currently writing.

time-read
2 mins  |
April 2020
The Making Of A Popstar
TRUE LOVE Magazine East Africa

The Making Of A Popstar

Her first EP (Extended Play Record) is ruling the airwaves and Tanasha Donna wants you to know that despite her heartbreak and being a new mom she is on her way to superstardom.

time-read
10+ mins  |
April 2020
IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP FUN?
TRUE LOVE Magazine East Africa

IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP FUN?

A relationship can sometimes feel boring. This is a phase that comes and goes. However there are certain circumstances where feelings of relationship boredom are not a phase but are permanent.

time-read
5 mins  |
April 2020
MANAGING YOUR ANXIETY
TRUE LOVE Magazine East Africa

MANAGING YOUR ANXIETY

Anxiety is like a toddler, it never stops talking, tells you constantly that it wants its own way, and keeps you up when you are trying to sleep.

time-read
4 mins  |
April 2020
INDOOR CAMPING
TRUE LOVE Magazine East Africa

INDOOR CAMPING

No indoor plans for the Easter Holiday? MERCY RAPHA shows you how to make indoor camping a forever memory for your kids.

time-read
4 mins  |
April 2020
6 FUN HOUSE-BOUND ACTIVITIES
TRUE LOVE Magazine East Africa

6 FUN HOUSE-BOUND ACTIVITIES

Stuck with the kids at home this lockdown season? MERCY RAPHA gives you fun activities to turn boredom into bonding time.

time-read
4 mins  |
April 2020