To Smoke or Not to Smoke

I know how it goes. Your hanging out with your friends, maybe at a party and you thought about it before hand. What do I do if there is drinking there. Do I partake, do I leave? This is a common thought at your age (14), especially now-a-days. As important as this is, there is another thought that isn't considered, but can have a dire impact on your future health. What do I do if people are smoking, and what if they ask me if I want to try it. Most kids in your situation will probably decline the invitation because smoking is gross and they just don't want to do it. Many other kids will give in and try it because lets face it, smoking isn't as dangerous as drinking is it. Nobody smokes a cigarette and gets in a fatal car accident like people who drink. Because of the lack of immediate risk many people will give in. Before you do consider that even people who don't smoke can develop lung cancer and emphysema. 60% of new lung cancer cases involve people who have never been regular smokers. People like the ones who try it just once or just a few times or even people who hang around smokers, but don't smoke themselves. The risk is there and needs to be considered. Each person has to live with the choices they make every day of their lives. Most if not all middle school age students will be confronted with a situation similar to the one above. The question is, how do you handle it? Reply to this blog with your solution.