Smoke-Free Life

Are you a smoker, a vaper, or maybe just surrounded by friends who are? Ever wondered why so many young people are attracted to it? This week, THRIVE is digging into the real reasons behind why our youth smoke and how you can help yourself and others quit. Discover why breaking free from this habit can be a powerful step toward better health!

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”
Theodore Roosevelt

Most people find it difficult to quit smoking or vaping because of their belief that it is impossible to quit. However, just by believing that you can do it, you are halfway to succeeding in quitting those bad habits.

Why do people smoke or vape?

The National Drug Strategy Household Survey concluded that smoking rates in Australia continue to decline while vaping triples. In 2022-2023, a survey revealed that nearly half of people aged 18 to 24 admitted to using e-cigarettes at least once in their lifetime (NDSHS 2023).

To explain this, we should understand the reason why our youth smoke or vape:

1. Social Image

Without us noticing, socially attractive images of smokers being presented in social media and movies have increased the possibility of youth uptake of smoking. Smokers are often glamorised as attractive, carefree, independent, desirable, masculine, rebellious, and many more. Young adults simply like trying new things and are not mature enough to understand the long-term consequences.

2. Peer Pressure

Some friends might encourage us to try cigarettes (or e-cigarettes) and to keep smoking. It might be difficult to refuse because of our human instinct to fit in, especially if we are a people pleaser. However, we must be firm in setting our boundaries as real friends would never force us to develop harmful habits. It is very admirable to have the integrity of not changing ourselves for others and staying true to who we are!

3. Packaging and Flavour

Most tobaccos are limited to flavour such as menthol but vaping products nowadays have innovated candy-or-fruit-flavoured vaping products with colourful packaging to attract young customers. Many young adults underestimate the danger of these products just because of its fun appearance.

Harmful Health Effects

Tobacco contains more than 100 dangerous chemicals and smoking at an early age increases the risk of lung cancer, asthma, heart disease, and dental problems. For students who love playing sports or exercising, it is important to note that smoking can also reduce your physical fitness and stamina because it is harder to breathe and keep your heart working.

Many people believe that vaping is less harmful than smoking, but Cancer Institute NSW has proven that vapes can cause real harm as well. Vapes causes breathlessness due to lung damage and becomes addictive as the nicotine reaches your brain. Scientist have also found toxic chemicals such as chlorine (used in disinfectant) and benzene (used in bug spray) inside vapes.

How Can We Quit?

There is no safe amount of vaping and smoking. The best thing you can do is quit. Even though you may be experiencing cravings and struggle to stop smoking or vaping, quitting is possible and support is available. Here are the ways you can quit or help someone you know quit:

1. Gradually cutting down

You have to slowly reduce the number of cigarettes or the amount you vape, until you can quit completely. Another way is to slowly increase the time between smoking a cigarette or vaping, from a couple of hours to several days.

2. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)

If used properly, NRT can help reduce withdrawal symptoms that happen when you stop smoking or vaping. You can use patches, gum, inhalers, tablets, or oral sprays that are available from pharmacies and some supermarkets.

3. My QuitBuddy app

This is an app that helps you start and stay smoke-free and vape-free. It offers great tips to overcome cravings and tracking systems to chart your quit progress. My QuitBuddy provides you all the facts you need to understand how smoking and vaping can impact your health. The journey starts here! Download the app and take the first step toward changing your life.