Number of teenagers picking up smoking on the rise, say doctors

“He was just 14-years-old when his parents brought him to us,” said Anupama MN, a clinical psychologist with New Life De-addiction Centre in Bangalore about a teenager. “As we spoke to him, we found out that he had been into smoking for almost a year. He started with cigarettes. After sometime he picked up the habit of smoking drugs,” she said.

Teenagers in the city take up habits like smoking as early as 13, say doctors. “Most of them later turn to drug use. Previously, smoking was common only among youths in their 20s. But now, we get over 20 cases of teenagers in their late teens for smoking marijuana in a month. Most of them start the habit much earlier,” said Anupama.

They start smoking in order to seek attention or due to peer pressure. It later becomes to a stress reliever for many of them. “Soon, they become addicted to the habit and many of them even turn to drug use to get more high. They are brought to us only when the situation becomes uncontrollable. In many cases, parents are unaware of their wards’ habit till they become addicts,” she said.

Dr Mallika Ragavendra, a psychiatrist with Baptist Hospital, who has been working with various de-addiction centres in the city for the past many years, agrees that the number of teenagers referred to rehabs has been increased. “But, the most alarming fact is that there are many more who are yet to get treated in the city and their parents have no idea about what they are into,” she said.

“Youngsters take to smoking just to get the feel of it for the first time. There are many, who, inspite of having used these substances have moved on in life. But some of them stick to it. It becomes a way to escape from their personal problems in future leading to addiction,” said Dr Ragavendra.

“Apart from physical complications, smoking causes many psychological issues. Depression is a major after effect. Many of them become paranoid of others and turn aggressive. Most of them lose their concentration and focus in studies. It is not just boys, even girls face such problems,” she said.

Many psychologists accuse bad parenting as the cause for such habits.

“Parents should involve themselves with their kids’ life. Today, most of them do not care to check about their friends and the people they contact with, where are they going and what are they doing. Many parents fail to notice their wards’ changing habits. One of the major reasons for the spread of smoking among urban teenagers is their lifestyle,” said Roy Mathew, a clinical physiologist and a counselor.