Prevalence of Tobacco Use and Alcohol Consumption among Adolescents

Adolescence is a period in the life of an individual from 10 years to 19 years of age. This stage is marked by rapid physical, cognitive, and psychosocial growth in an individual and is a very crucial stage for their development. This is the time when the foundations of a healthy or unhealthy lifestyle are laid, and these habits may continue for a lifetime. Current research studies show high growth in the number of adolescents involved in risky behaviors, and this has become a matter of concern. The prevalence of risks in alcohol and tobacco consumption has increased tremendously. Tobacco and alcohol are known to be ‘gateway drugs’ as they are the first to be consumed when an individual starts such practices; the reasons are their easy availability, peer influences, acculturation, or even family history of substance use disorder. To decrease this and establish a healthy lifestyle, teenagers need proper information and guidance, including opportunities that may lead them to actively participate in interventions that are aimed to improve their physical and mental health. Mostly, alcohol and tobacco are seen to be prevalent together. Adolescents who show consistent drinking and tobacco smoking habits are more likely to show irritant, violent behaviors. Also, they are at higher risk of developing drug habits like marijuana abuse in their later stages of life.

This chapter basically examines the generality of tobacco and alcohol consumption, especially among adolescents, and the ways in which it causes harm to adolescents and its side effects. It gives an overview of the social, physical, and psychological effects it has on adolescents’ lifestyles. It also covers risk factors and smoking and alcohol cessation efforts in the population. It gives special consideration to smoking cessation treatment, which includes peer influences, motivation, and nicotine dependence.