Signs of Tobacco Use

• coughing
• throat irritation
• hoarseness
• bad breath
• decreased athletic performance
• greater susceptibility to colds
• stained teeth and clothing
• shortness of breath
• smell of smoke on your child’s clothing

 What to do if Your Child Smokes

•  Avoid lecturing or punishments. Instead, have an open and honest conversation with your child about why he/she is smoking and find out what changes can be made in your child’s life to help him/her stop smoking.
•  Educate your child about the downsides of smoking. In addition to the long-term health effects, remind your child about the immediate impacts of smoking – shortness of breath, bad breath, yellow teeth, smelly clothes, a dulled sense of taste and smell, and less money to spend on other things. Stress the rewards that come with quitting – freedom from addiction, improved health and fitness, better athletic performance, and improved appearance.
• Help your child develop a quit plan and offer information and resources. Your child’s doctor may be able to provide assistance. 
• Be a good role model. If you smoke, try to stop. In the meantime, do not use tobacco in front of your children, do not offer tobacco products to your children, and do not leave tobacco products in a place where they can easily be taken.

•  Start talking to your children about tobacco use at age five or six, and keep talking through their high school years. 
• Talk directly about the risks of tobacco use and teach your children how to say “no.”
• Protect children from secondhand smoke by making your home smoke-free and asking people who visit not to smoke inside your home.