What’s A Parent to Think … About That First Puff of a Cigarette

Do you remember your first puff of a cigarette? If you are a parent, it is more than likely that you took one. For example, in one of our research studies, more than 80 percent of adults with a teenager reported having smoked at least a puff during their lifetime.

How about your kids? Have they taken a puff? Would they? If they did, would you be concerned?

Years ago, researchers figured that this first puff wasn’t so much of a problem. The problem was that some kids would eventually smoke an entire cigarette, some of those would become daily smokers, and some of those would become dependent on nicotine and find it extremely difficult to quit. Those who progressed to daily smoking and nicotine dependence would be at astronomical risk for heart and lung diseases, as well as cancers, attributable to their history of smoking.

Given all this, there is now considerable interest in preventing that first puff. The logical reason is that if a kid never takes a puff of a cigarette, they will never progress to higher levels of smoking. Before you say “Duh,” keep in mind that this perspective argues that that first puff is not harmless and just a rite of passage of adolescence. Think of it this way – by the time you figure out your teen has had a first puff, they very well might have smoked more than this.

What’s really important for you to know is what researchers have been learning about the psychological and physiological effects of that first puff and those early smoking experiences. It’s been known for a long time that some people have a strong positive reaction to their first cigarette – it feels pleasant, they get a “buzz.” Teens who have such an experience are clearly at risk (perhaps due to genetic reasons) for trying another cigarette … and another … and another.

In contrast, some kids (and some of you may remember this) have a very strong negative reaction to their first cigarette – they cough, it’s irritating. Researchers used to think that this would prevent them from trying another cigarette. However, this may not always be true.

Why? The theory is that anyone who reacts strongly (whether positive or negative) to their first cigarettes is showing an intense physiological reaction to nicotine, so that if they try more cigarettes, they will be likely to eventually experience the positive reactions.

What’s even more troubling is that studies conducted over the past decade have shown that some teenagers experience symptoms of nicotine dependence after only a few cigarettes. These studies suggest that those first puffs and cigarettes are not only the first steps in a long chain that could lead to daily smoking, but also a strong inducement to increase smoking rapidly during adolescence.

So what can you do? First, understand that that first puff is not just a harmless part of growing up. It could very well accelerate the likelihood of further experimentation with cigarettes, and in some cases, result in early signs of nicotine dependence.

Second, you will need to communicate this knowledge to your child – it won’t do much if you know that the first puff is a bad idea, but you aren’t sure that your child knows this. Don’t wait until your child is 16 – better to start the dialogue before adolescence and then reinforce the message as your child approaches adolescence and starts spending unsupervised time alone with friends.

Third, you will need to monitor your child closely as they approach adolescence and through adolescence. Find out who they are spending time with, attempt to understand what other kids are doing, and try to have your child avoid situations where they could be pressured to try cigarettes. This isn’t easy stuff – but it’s really essential, and it dovetails with maintaining a good line of open communication with your child.

Finally, if you smoke, try to quit. One of our recent studies, published online in the journal Pediatrics, revealed that parental smoking is a very strong statistical predictor of adolescent smoking. Other studies have shown that parental smoking predicts adolescent smoking even if the parents attempt to provide anti-smoking messages to their children. Don’t forget, if someone else in your household smokes, try to get him or her to quit as well.

Despite stringent public health anti-smoking campaigns and practices (such as banning smoking in public places), adolescents continue to take that first puff. As a parent, you can be the first line of defense to try to prevent this.Richard Rende, Ph.D., lives in Dartmouth. He is a developmental psychologist and research professor at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University. His research program focuses on family influences on the development of behavior problems in childhood, adolescence and the transition to adulthood. His work has been supported by the National Institute on Mental Health, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The opinions expressed in this column are his and his alone.

Richard Rende, Ph.D., lives in Dartmouth. He is a developmental psychologist and research professor at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University. His research program focuses on family influences on the development of behavior problems in childhood, adolescence and the transition to adulthood. His work has been supported by the National Institute on Mental Health, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The opinions expressed in this column are his and his alone.
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