What age do people start smoking?

Rachel Nall began writing in 2003. She is a former managing editor for custom health publications, including physician journals. She has written for The Associated Press and "Jezebel, " "Charleston, " "Chatter" and "Reach" magazines. Nall is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Tennessee.

The hazards of smoking can make it difficult to understand why a person would begin smoking-increased risk of lung cancer, emphysema and heart disease all are connected with smoking, according to Kids Health. Although different reasons exist for when and why a person would begin smoking, a predominant number of smokers begin in their teen years.

An estimated nine out of 10 smokers begin smoking before age 18, according to Kids Health. The average age a person begins smoking is at age 13, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Each day, an estimated 3, 500 people under the age of 18 begin smoking. Many young people begin smoking without considering the possibility they may become addicted, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. However, by the time young people reach age 18, they may find themselves addicted.

Another aspect of when a person starts smoking is the circumstances by which they are influenced. Some young smokers begin because a family member smokes, according to Kids Health. Others smoke due to peer pressure from other teens and their friends who may smoke as well. Trying cigarettes can be a result of a teen’s wish to experiment and look “cool, ” according to Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Some people begin smoking as a means to cope with strong emotions. Some smokers turn to cigarettes as a means to relieve stress, according to Medical News Today. Others may claim they smoke as a means to focus the mind and provide mental stimulation. In a research questionnaire developed by the University of Wisconsin Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center, experienced smokers claimed they smoke automatically-with little thought and sometimes out of boredom, according to Medical News Today.

Because teenagers represent the largest demographic of new smokers, preventing this generation from starting smoking is easier than achieving a successful quitting effort. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids recommends that anti-smoking education concentrate on reducing the desire of teens to experiment with cigarettes. Dispelling myths that smoking looks cool also can help to discourage young people from lighting up.

If a person does begin smoking, the addictive substances in cigarettes can make it physically and mentally difficult to stop. Because only an estimated 5 percent of smokers who quit “cold turkey”-stopping smoking without any anti-smoking aids-quit successfully, seeking medication or support group assistance can help a person quit, according to Medical News Today. Because a person is likely friends with others who smoke or has favorite restaurants and other locations where he commonly smokes, quitting smoking also may require behavior modifications.