begins early with potentially cascading effects throughout life. For example, cigarette use—often viewed as a stress relief tool—is more common among teenagers experiencing social stress, such as those experiencing problems with parents or at school (Johnson & Hoffman 2000, Kirby 2001). Most adults who smoke began smoking as teenagers, and smoking is a difficult habit to break at any age. Adolescent smoking in response to stress, therefore, has long-term implications for health.
