Even with the extensive publicity of anti-smoking campaigns and tobacco prevention programs to raise awareness in youths, more than 6,000 youths below age 18 try their first cigarette each day and more than 1/2 of them turn out to be daily smokers.

Its a shocking fact that about 66.2% of America's smokers are aged below 18 years. Now about 4.5 million American youths aged between 12 and 17 years old smoke cigarettes.  

Most youth underestimate the compulsion of the smoking habit. Most of them start off thinking that they can stop smoking anytime they want to but in actual fact, nearly 75% of them are still puffing away 5 or 6 years later. This shows that it is harder for young smokers to let go of their smoking habit. 

Most of these youth smokers regret that they ever started smoking. Unfortunately, they fall trapped in the belief that quitting smoking is very difficult and this makes it even harder for them to quit smoking. 

Parents and teachers play an influential role in helping these youths stay away from smoking. With the right support and involvement displayed by these role models, youths have a better chance of staying away or quitting smoking completely.

**References
American Lung Association