In the past, it was common to see television advertisements encouraging cigarette consumption. The practice was culturally accepted and even viewed positively. However, today the harms caused by addiction are widely known in all areas of life. So why are there still young people starting to smoke these days?
The most important thing to remember is that all symptoms are temporary and that the benefits gained by those who quit tobacco are far more significant. Therefore, Vera issues a challenge: “Everyone says that quitting smoking is very difficult. My proposal is for people to give themselves that chance, try one or two days without smoking, and see the immediate gains they have. If they extend this to their lives in a broader way, they will have a sense of the benefits they will gain. I suggest that people try this freedom of living without smoking.
The cigarette contains about 4,700 substances that harm health. Nicotine is the most prominent substance because it causes a chemical dependency similar to that of other drugs, exposing the person to other substances such as carbon monoxide and tar. Tar, for example, which forms during combustion, contains substances responsible for causing various types of cancer. Carbon monoxide, on the other hand, hinders the arrival of oxygen to the body’s tissues and organs, compromising normal activity and potentially 
causing coronary disease, such as myocardial infarction, among others. In short, there is a progression of various diseases stemming from the substances contained in cigarette composition.
In the nervous system, there is an area described as the “reward system” because it has a direct relationship with our attention, motivation, reward, and pleasure. Nicotine, being a psychoactive substance, will act in this region by stimulating the release of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, responsible for the sensation of well-being and relaxation, which initially leads those who start smoking to turn to tobacco to reproduce that feeling. After inhaling the cigarette, nicotine reaches the brain, and the stimulation of substances begins, which, with increased and constant reinforcement, will lead to a state of chemical dependency.
The harmful agents found in smoke compromise the body’s defenses and end up producing approximately 55 diseases 
related to smoking, which can reduce, on average, up to 10 years of a smoker’s life. Smoking is responsible for 30% of all cancer deaths, for 85% of lung cancers, and for respiratory diseases, heart attacks, and strokes. It is also important to highlight that smoking increases the risk of diseases not only in active smokers but also in passive smokers.
Despite the information currently available about smoking, there are still various motivations that can lead young people to smoke. Advertising and the display of cigarette sales in places frequented by young people, such as bakeries and supermarkets, pose a significant health risk, as they may encourage them to try smoking. Therefore, it is necessary to rethink these displays at points of sale. Another possibility for young people to start smoking is by mimicking the behaviors of idols or people close to them, such as friends and family members. It is the duty of society to alert young people that cigarette dependency is one of the most 
severe dependencies, forcing its users to consume it in increasingly larger quantities, multiple times a day, in a cycle where the more they smoke, the more they want to smoke and the more dependent they become.
There are professionals trained to assess smokers and provide treatment. If indicated, medications will be introduced to help reduce the physical and psychological discomfort of those who quit smoking on their own, such as irritability, nervousness, and anxiety. In treatment, the person learns to cope with this and thus has a better chance of quitting smoking for good.
The initial difficulty is closely related to the fact that there is a chemical dependency that has been reinforced over the years, with daily cigarette use throughout the routine. Interrupting this process may bring initial discomfort. The most important thing is for the person to understand that the difficulties are temporary. Generally, in the first three weeks, uncomfortable symptoms will be more present, as until then, the cigarette was part of all moments of life. A few days are needed for detoxification, for the body, 
brain, and memory to understand new information. Initially, there will be a void that, over time, should be filled with some new routine, such as leisure moments, physical activity, or healthier eating.
In Brazil, the sale of electronic cigarettes is prohibited, but in the USA, there are no restrictions on their sale. There is concern that electronic cigarettes may be seen as a treatment resource, as the literature to date does not confirm this understanding and shows that they are not free of health risks. Furthermore, electronic cigarettes may serve as an incentive for young people to start smoking or compromise the abstinence of those who have already quit smoking cigarettes.
Source: www.blog.saude.gov.br, by Vera Borges