Talk to kids about cigarettes

Every day in the U.S., approximately 3,600 children between the ages of 12 and 17 start smoking cigarettes, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Here are some tips for talking to your teen about avoiding tobacco use. - Keep the lines of communication open. Talk on a regular basis. The more you talk about a wide range of issues with your child, the easier it is to talk about specific topics such as tobacco.

In general conversation, emphasize all the things your child does well rather than things they don't do well. And demonstrate respect for your child's opinions. Show you're listening and ask follow-up questions. - Talk about health consequences. They need to know what can happen to them. Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the most dangerous chemicals in cigarette smoke, besides nicotine, are tar and carbon monoxide.

NIDA also states that tar causes lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchial diseases, and that carbon monoxide causes heart problems. - According to NIDA, health risks can be immediate, affecting breathing, for example. And addiction can occur after smoking as few as 100 cigarettes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.