Ready To Start Your Quit And Begin Your Life?

There are always hard life decisions that have to be made throughout life. Making the decision to quit smoking and vaping for good is a tough one to make. There are many reasons to quit such as the impact that it has on your body and the impact on your pockets. Not only is it bad for your health but it is very financially draining which could be a reason to quit. But taking that first step is crucial to succeeding in goals such as this. 

Tobacco companies want to get people addicted to their product, especially teenagers. They want to hook teenagers to get long term customers so they advertise these products to make consumers more likely to buy their products. By producing colorful packaging, different flavors, and good advertising on many different platforms like social media it intrigues the younger generation. This is the main reason why teens start using tobacco. Teens’ brains are not done fully developing so it has a greater impact on these young users, even worsening their anxiety. The dopamine that is released when using nicotine is what makes people crave more. Nicotine has a great impact on learning and memory since not only does it affect the brain, but it affects your lungs by making it difficult to breathe. With people that already have respiratory problems vaping could make it worse and affect your lungs sooner than later in life. Looking at all the negative consequences that come from starting to vape you should think before taking that first hit. 

There are many hardships that come along with your journey of quitting. The media reports began to appear about people, especially our youth, being hospitalized with serious lung disease which is caused by vaping. While we know it is hard to go cold turkey there’s ways to step in the right direction, so let's approach it from a different standpoint. The vape device itself is dangerous to the user, these appliances overheat and explode which has resulted in serious injuries to all users. Alongside that your loose batteries that aren’t separated from other metals like coins or keys corrupt the device from the inside. Then replacing the batteries if they experience water damage is more money out of your pocket. Lastly, teens charge their vape with any charger nearby which can also damage the vape. This leads to malfunctions which end teenagers up at the medical care center!

We all enjoy different journeys throughout life but the journey of using tobacco products must come to an end! If you don’t realize you’re doing more harm than good than maybe some brief ideas could convince you to stop. For instance non-smokers will be more interested in going on a date with you. More seriously, you can begin to protect your brain, lungs and every other organ in your body! Also, it’s a money saver since you could save up to $600 a year. You won't need to hide it from your parents, teachers or boss. Other factors to take under consideration include you won't smell like smoke, be hooked for life, feel as stressed, and labeled as a smoker.

All it takes is some motivation and the right mindset to really be committed to quitting so now you must be asking, “How do I start?” Lucky for you we have the tools to help you succeed during this journey. Taking the time to start My Life, My Quit could transcend your life and change your habits for the better. This free, non-judgemental support team is here for you and you only! Join the thousands of teens that have started and don’t regret a moment of it. You can text “Start My Quit” to 36072, or call and chat with your coach at 855.891.9989 for emotional support throughout your quit! 

Mary O'Donnell

Seniors in Health Careers Program at West Shore Career at Lakewood High School

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Volume 17, Issue 7, Posted 12:32 PM, 04.21.2021