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Example research essay topic: National Institute On Drug Abuse Teenage Smoking - 1,514 words

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More Teenagers are still Hooked on Smoking at an Early Age Abstract This research aims to determine the daily cigarette consumption of male teenage smokers on the average through a survey conducted to fifty respondents. The research was undertaken in an area frequented by teens at a time when most of them are hanging out. The result proved that teenagers are heavy smokers and almost a third of the entire male smoking population. This proves the fact that majority of smokers today started smoking in their teens. And even with the increasing public awareness about the hazards of this habit supported by reports of cigarette users decline, it still is a major health issue today.

Introduction Teenage smoking has grown alarmingly during the past years especially among the male populace. National Institute on Drug Abuse (2006) reports that teenagers start to smoke as young as 12 -years old. Smoking is defined as: The act of burning the dried or cured leaves of the tobacco plant and inhaling the smoke for pleasure, for ritualistic or social purposes, self-medication, or simply to satisfy physical dependence or addiction. (Wikipedia, 2007) The fact that it is popular with the youth signifies that a lot of people start out young and this usually ensures that the habit will be there for a long time even if with the overwhelming growing public sentiment against it. Studies have proved that illnesses and their gravity is associated with smoking grow proportionately with the number of years a person had smoked. The risks of dying from lung cancer are 23 times higher for male smokers than for female smokers. ("Smoking, " Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2000) This study aims to know the daily cigarette consumption of teen smokers by determining how many sticks of cigarette a teenager smokes in a day. The data gathered from teenage respondents with ages between fifteen to nineteen was then formulated for each age group and an average was determined.

Materials and Methods The study was conducted in a mall frequented mostly by teenagers. First a question was formulated that would determine how many sticks of cigarette a teenager smoke in a day. A known teenage hang out was then designated as the target area. The method of survey used was a questionnaire with the question, how many sticks of cigarette do you smoke in a day? It was given then given out to fifty respondent ages fifteen to nineteen years old. To eliminate the chance that the report might be biased, it was randomly given to individuals who are not together hence; no two persons coming from the same spot at the same time were asked the question.

The respondents were also categorized into age groups to ensure consistency of the data gathered. Because it aims to cover as large a segment of the teen population as possible, the survey was conducted on a weekend when most are not at school, between 3 pm to 7 pm when most of the target subjects are usually out with their friends in places where they normally hang-out. The aim of the data gathering was to determine the number of sticks an individual teenager ages between fifteen to nineteen consume in a day. Results An analysis of the data gathered had shown that teenagers as young as fifteen years old are already well into the habit of seriously smoking a cigarette. From a highest number of twenty sticks consumed by one individual to a lowest number of five, a mean was computed at ten (Kindly refer to Table 1). Individual responding in the 16 year old age group generally has almost the same result but the average from ages 17 to 19 showed a gradual increase in the number of sticks smoked in a day.

Whereas the number of sticks for a 15 -year old was a high 20 or 1 pack of cigarettes a day, that number was doubled at the age of 18 with a slight decrease at age 19. The average number of cigarettes smoke in a day also increases as the age of the respondents increase (See Table 1). Age Group No of Respondents High Low Average 15 10 20 5 14 16 10 20 6 16 17 10 30 8 19 18 10 40 20 24 19 10 30 15 25 Table 1 - an illustration of the figures arrived at from a survey conducted for each smoking age group. Further analysis also showed that although age 18 has a slightly higher average, each individual nineteen year old has a higher daily consumption than an 18 -year old (Refer to Table 2). The computed over-all average was 19. 6 or almost a pack a day for all the entire fifty respondents. Number of cigarettes a day Age Group 15 20 5 15 12 15 20 15 12 16 20 16 20 6 20 15 15 12 10 20 12 20 17 30 20 20 15 18 25 24 12 13 20 18 40 20 25 20 24 20 25 30 20 20 19 35 30 15 18 24 20 25 30 30 30 Table 2 - daily cigarette consumption for each age group Discussions Results have shown that most people get hooked to smoking at a very young age.

This concurs with the findings of ACS, Inc (2007) that 32 % of high school students today smoke. With an over-all average of 19. 6 sticks a day or almost one pack of cigarettes per day, the entire 50 teenager respondents of this survey make up a large part of the male smoking population in our society. The result also shows a gradual increase in the number of cigarettes consumed daily as the respondents age progress proving that teenagers who get hooked on the habit seldom find a way to stop it as they mature. This is reinforced by the fact that individual consumption for each respondents also increases as the age group increase. The significance of this finding is that it proves that majority of adult smokers today started the habit in their high school. This poses a serious health issue not only to the smoker himself but to other people through second-hand smoke.

This should also pose a warning to parents to guide their children where to go. Slater, et al (2007) stated that the marketing of cigarettes in places where teens shop clearly increases their cigarette use. " Further studies had shown that teenagers who started smoking at an early age are more likely to use drugs later on. Another known but often overlooked fact is the stage that the teenager is going through. Adolescents need to be guided properly because this is a stage in a person life wherein one has the need to act with bravado, daring and impulsiveness; living dangerously seems to have an appeal to teenagers.

And, by smoking teenagers can sort of act on these feelings. Another point to consider is that because it is sort of forbidden, smoking early becomes more alluring to teens. The experiencing and the trying-it-out is not a problem, it only starts when they take that first puff and they cannot put a stop to it. The idea that they are breaking the law or going against their parents warnings and / or schools regulations is an addiction within itself. Kids like to get attention; it does not matter if its good attention or bad attention. They crave attention and by smoking they get big attention.

The other teens look at them in all kinds of ways and the adults get upset and dont know what to do (Teen Drug Abuse, online, 2007). In conclusion teenage smoking can still be considered a major youth issue especially among the males, even with reports that it is on the decline. With the increased public awareness on health, it is still a big question why there are still many of youth indulging in this particular habit. Perhaps there is some deeper reasons here that needs to be addressed. Reference List American Cancer Society 2007, Questions about Smoking, Tobacco and Health, viewed 28 August, 2007, < web >.

National Institute on Drug Abuse 2007, viewed 29 August, 2007, < web >. Slater, S. J. , et al 2007, The impact of retail cigarette marketing practices on youth smoking uptake, Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. , vol. 161, no. 5, pp. 440 - 445. "Smoking, " Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2007, viewed 28 August 2007, < web >. Teen Drug Abuse 2007, viewed 28 August 2007, < web >. Wikipedia 2007, Smoking viewed 28 August 2007 < web >.


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Research essay sample on National Institute On Drug Abuse Teenage Smoking

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