Describe factors that increase the risk of teenagers drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes. Then discuss methods of reducing these behaviors

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Parents and peers are influential in determining whether youth drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes. When drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes is important in their parents' lives, teens are more likely to engage in these behaviors. Teens are less likely to drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes when their parents are involved in their lives and practice authoritative parenting. Teens are also more likely to drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes when peers do. In order to reduce teen drinking and cigarette smoking, interventions need to focus on teaching effective coping skills and interactive school-based programs. In addition, effective programs that discourage adolescents from smoking have the following features: (1) Schools have no-smoking policies for all students, staff, and school visitors. (2) The program provides information about short- and long-term health and social consequences of smoking and provides students with effective ways to respond to peer pressure to smoke. (3) The program goes beyond the school to involve parents and communities.