This post was sponsored by Tobacco Free New York State as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. All opinions expressed in my post are my own.
The average age of a new smoker in New York State is 13 years old.
And I know this to be true. I was that kid. Well, I think I was 15 because I remember smoking in my best friends car when she would drive. We would steal her moms Virginia Slims and thought it was super cool – and rebellious.
I kept that habit up until the day I found out I was pregnant at the age of 30 – 15 years later.
So how do kids start smoking you ask?
Don’t think it won’t happen to yours. At that age you don’t think about consequences or how bad it is for you. You don’t realize it’s addictive and will stick with you possibly for the rest of your life. It’s a hard habit to kick once you start, I’ve seen MANY friends struggle to stop over and over again. So the best advice? Never start.
I’m one of the lucky ones. And I thank my blessings daily for it. I was able to never smoke again once I found out I was pregnant and never returned. Instead, I’ve turned into one of those super-healthy moms who runs half marathons and hikes up the steepest mountains. Those days of drinking all night and chain smoking in bars (not to mention all the CIGAR smoke I inhaled as a bartender) really is reversible. And while I’ve been smoke-free for seven years, the CDC states that it takes 10 years of not smoking, the risk of lung cancer, cancer of the throat, mouth, esophagus, and major organs also decreases by approximately half that of a traditional cigarette smoker.
So I’m not in the clear even as I prepare to run my fourth half-marathon in four days.
So what can you do really?
You can be the best parent on the Earth, but you have a lot going against you. Tobacco companies are spending billions to put their products in front of our kids in stores. And the more kids see tobacco, the more likely they are to start smoking – especially if their FRIENDS are smoking. Case in point.
Sign the “Seen Enough Tobacco” Pledge
Our kids have seen enough. It’s time to take action and protect kids from being exposed to tobacco products in stores – sign the “Seen Enough Tobacco” pledge today to make New York a healthier place to live, work and play!
