Ken Wassum, Associate Director, Clinical Development & Support

Smokers with young children now have more reasons than ever to quit. We have known for years that secondhand smoke causes upper respiratory infections, middle-ear infections, and life-threatening asthma attacks in children, so much so that one of the first questions a pediatrician seeing a child with a lung infection or an ear ache asks of a parent is, “do you or anyone in your home smoke?"  In addition, there is good evidence that children of smokers are twice as likely to begin smoking than children of non-smokers.

Now there is increasing evidence that children exposed to secondhand smoke are up to 50% more likely to have neurobehavioral disorders, such as learning disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD and ADHD), and other behavior problems compared to children who live in smoke-free homes.  The data comes from a national health survey which surveyed the parents of more than 55,000 children who were under the age of 12.  The journal, Pediatrics, published the article this week.

This evidence, combined with existing evidence, strengthens the association between exposure to tobacco smoke and other mental health disorders. Another study recently published showed that children and teens exposed to secondhand smoke may suffer from major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and ADHD (August 2010 Archives of General Psychiatry).  Scientists have recognized for some years that there is an association between depression and smoking as a teen. It is not clear if smoking causes depression or whether kids who are predisposed to depression are more susceptible to beginning to smoke as a result of their depression.  All we know is that there is an association between smoking as a teen and depression.

We all want our children to have healthy, productive lives. This is dream shared by people across all cultures, rich or poor.  Smokers can find many reasons to put off quitting. They tell themselves “I will know when it is time to quit”, or “when cigarettes cost X amount per pack I will quit”. 

People quit smoking for all kinds of reasons -- their health, the inconvenience due to restrictions on smoking in restaurants, bars, and other public spaces, the escalating expense, and, importantly, for their health and wellbeing. Let's not forget about the health and wellbeing of the children as well. When a tobacco user makes the decision to quit, he gives his kids a chance of a better life.