Fortunately, teenager smoking has been on the decline for the past fifteen years.
Yet, ever since the fifties, with icons like James Dean, smoking seemed almost to be a natural part of growing up.
Even though today we are aware of the health risks associated with smoking, cigarettes are still popular with a significant percentage of teenagers.
In fact, 1 out of ever 5 teenagers smokes cigarettes, and across the world, over 90,000 teens start smoking every single day.
Most adult smokers began their habit as teenagers.
Tobacco companies have always known this and have marketed their products accordingly.
Knowing the health risks - cancer, heart disease, emphysema, etc etc etc - is not enough to break the habit once the nicotine addiction has its stranglehold on a smoker.
The best way to ensure your teenager doesn't get hooked on cigarettes is to ensure they never start.
However, there is a catch in trying to do this.
Teenagers are by nature rebellious towards authority, including parents, school systems and governments urging them not to pick up the habit and warning them of the consequences starting.
Telling a teen not to do something, particularly as they feel what happens to others is not necessarily going to happen to them, make programs and lectures about the evils of cigarettes almost a lure for them to start.
However, parents can still positively influence their children not to start smoking, and to influence their smoking teenager in butting out.
The best way is to be a good role model yourself, by not smoking.
If you do smoke, then stop.
Now.
Explain to your children why you are quitting and the reasons why you hope they do not get hooked on the habit.