Quit smoking – for your children's sake

PARENTS are being urged to quit smoking for the sake of their children – and the message is being underlined with the grim statistic that 331 people in Warrington die from smoking related illnesses every year.
The call comes from Smokefree North West in response to a new survey, which shows that nearly half (46 per cent) of teenagers whose parents smoke say they worry more about their parents smoking than anything else, including money, bullying and their parents divorcing.
The research, released by the Department of Health to coincide with the launch of a new NHS advertising campaign, reveals that teenagers, of parents who smoke, are feeling increasingly responsible for their parents’ health.
Two thirds (65 per cent) are worried about their parents’ smoking and 88 per cent are concerned about the impact this has on their parents’ health. With nearly nine in 10 learning about health at school, almost half (43 per cent) claim they understand the risks of smoking better than their parents. Further findings show that:
*Nearly a third (29 per cent) of teenagers feel they are the ‘health experts’ in the family.
*Three quarters (75 per cent) have asked or told their parents to stop.
*And almost half (43 per cent) are angry that their parents won’t listen to them.
Young people are also feeling a burden of responsibility about their families’ health. Parents smoking leads to feelings of frustration and anger, with a third (31 per cent) of teenagers feeling most upset with their parents when they smoke. A further three quarters (75 per cent) of teenagers ask their parents to stop. But 43 per cent of them feel angry that their parents don’t listen to them, a third feel confused (32 per cent) about why they smoke and just under a third (29 per cent) feel frustrated that their parents don’t know how bad it is for them.
Andrea Crossfield, director of Smokefree North West, said: “While it’s encouraging to see that teenagers appear to be increasingly aware of the harmful effects of smoking, it’s a concern that some parents still aren’t listening to their worries. Losing a parent can have a potentially devastating effect on a teenagers’ life and with 260 people in the North West dying from smoking related diseases every week, smokers are putting themselves at significant risk.
“The new NHS campaign will encourage parents who can’t quit for themselves to think about kicking the habit for the sake of their families. Anyone can contact their local Stop Smoking Service for free help and support on how to quit.”
The NHS Smoking Helpline can be reached on 0800 169 0169.