Therefore, other institutions should take part in the initiative to campaign against smoking. This paper is aimed to address the problem of smoking among the youth. First, it describes the maladaptive behavior and its detrimental effects to the youth. Second, it identifies the factors that lead to the development of the behavior, and explain the role of parents and society in getting rid of this maladaptive behavior. Third, the study also determines the role of other institutions such as marketers in minimizing, eradicating or correcting the maladaptive behavior.
Smoking can be considered a maladaptive behavior because those who smoke consider the habit as a way to rid of stress. However, smoking can actually cause even more problems especially physical illness. Cigarette smoking has been found to have many negative effects that could endanger lives of smokers and non-smokers alike. In particular, long-term smoking can cause different diseases in the lungs, oral cavity, and the throat. In addition, it is also associated with certain cancers especially of the lung and the heart, and even of the breast (Chaudhuri et al., 2006). Other negative effects include allergies, peptic ulcer, stroke, asthma, and other serious illnesses. Moreover, a study conducted by researchers at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center found out the possible role of nicotine from cigarettes in breast cancer development and metastases (“Study Suggests a Possible Role for Nicotine in Breast Tumor Development and Metastases,” 2008)
Informing children of the possible risks of smoking is not enough to make them realize the negative effects of smoking. The parents serve as the main motivators to make children avoid the habit. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) suggests the importance of being involved in children’s affairs. By knowing their children’s