Obviously, any form of tobacco use is unsafe, whether it is smoked, smokeless, or electronic, but smoking in your late teens is especially dangerous. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that If youth smoking continues in this country, 5.6 million of American youth younger than 18 will die. That’s about 1 of every 13 americans age 17 years or younger …show more content…
They wouldn’t only be healthy physically, but mentally, also. According to the CDC, there is a strong relationship between youth smoking and depression, anxiety, and stress. There is also evidence that youth may be sensitive to nicotine and that teens will feel more dependent on nicotine sooner than adults. Youth who use multiple tobacco products are at higher risk for developing nicotine dependence and be more likely to use tobacco in adulthood.
The smoking age should be raised to 21 because nicotine is more addictive than alcohol. According to, Michael M Miller, MD, an addiction medicine specialist, nicotine is one of the most addictive drugs. Among the people that drink alcohol on a regular basis, about 15% develop an addiction. Around 45% of people that smoke develop an addiction. (Health.com).
Smokers earn 20% less compared to non smokers. Raising the smoking age would save teens up to $10,000 a year. One of the biggest complaints made by teens is not having enough money, according to The Futures Company’s 2016 TRU Youth Monitor. 88 percent of young adults aged 15-25 years did not know smokers earn 20 percent less than non smokers. Teens are more concerned about their future financial stability. In a survey conducted by Northeastern University, 67 percent of the respondents between the ages 16 and 19 said that they were concerned about “being able to afford