Signs that Your Teenager is Smoking Tobacco

Many parents worry that their teenagers might start smoking. To help, we've compiled a list of signs that may mean your teenager is smoking tobacco.

If you’re worried about whether your teenager is smoking, you should know that your concern is valid. The teenage years are a time when young people often have their first experiences with tobacco, alcohol and drugs. In this article, we’ll cover some of the most common warning signs to watch out for.

Unlike many other substances, tobacco can be difficult to detect. In fact, the physical signs are less noticeable than alcohol or drugs, which can make it harder for parents to detect the signs of addiction in their children.

How can you tell if your teenager is smoking?

Below, we’ll explain the possible signs that your teenager is smoking tobacco:

1. Related paraphernalia

The clearest sign that your teenager is smoking tobacco is the sudden appearance of tobacco products, such as cigarettes, lighters, loose tobacco, rolling papers, etc. Normally, these items can be hidden in backpacks, pockets, drawers, or in your teenager’s car.

Be careful: it’s not a good idea to invade your child’s privacy. However, it’s advisable to keep a close watch if you think your teenager might be smoking. In these cases, you may find something in your child’s room that will answer all your questions.

2. Mood changes

Mood changes are one of the symptoms that indicates most clearly that your teenager is smoking. These may appear when the young person goes a long time without smoking, due to the addictive qualities of nicotine.

In this case, your teen may act aggressive, surly or irritable. In fact studies confirm that tobacco affects teenagers’ moods.

3. Bad smell

You should also keep in mind that teenagers who smoke usually also smell strongly of smoke. In fact, they often aren’t aware of the extreme nature of the odor from tobacco. They often think – wrongly – that a shower or brushing their teeth will be enough to get rid of it.

This is certainly the most obvious warning sign. If you notice your teenager smells like smoke, it’s very likely they’ve picked up the habit.

4. Open windows

If you notice that your child is leaving the windows of their room open often, it may be one of the most obvious signs that your teenager is smoking.

Keeping the windows open often, even when it’s cold outside, may be the smoker’s attempt to ventilate the room to keep it from smelling like smoke. Even if teenagers don’t smoke in the room, the smell will be passed from their clothes to the room automatically. Of course, they know this.

5. Making excuses to go out

In fifth and last place, you should know that it’s perfectly normal for your teenage children to want to leave the house from time to time, and to want their own space. However, if you notice your children are making excuses to go out frequently, this could be another sign that they’re smoking.

This means it’s a good idea to try to be alert to any behavior that indicates your child is spending more time outside than is necessary. Pay special attention if your child goes out continually, even when the weather isn’t good.

If you’re wondering whether your teenager is smoking, the list above will definitely help you. Now you have the appropriate tools to evaluate it.

Remember that adolescence is a time when children want to discover the world around them. It’s also a time of total self-discovery, even if it means doing things that are bad for their health.

We’re sure that a good conversation between mother and child will be extremely beneficial!