Factors Affecting Tobacco Use People choose to use tobacco products for a number of reasons. The environment and a person’s experiences influence these reasons. Risk factors and protective factors for tobacco use include the following. Individual Factors Individual factors are the factors related to your identity and behaviors. These factors include genetic makeup, mental health, and stage of development. Genetic makeup influences how likely a person is to develop an addiction to nicotine. Researchers have identified several genes that impact risk for nicotine addiction. This means that having a family history of nicotine addiction increases a person’s risk for developing a substance use disorder using tobacco products. Some teens smoke, vape, or chew tobacco in an attempt to manage their mental health. Teens may feel stressed at school and turn to smoking or vaping as a way to relax. They may also be trying out a new identity. Teens may associate using tobacco with maturity, sophistication, glamour, rebellion, or toughness. Mental health conditions can increase the risk of nicotine addiction in teens. Rather than turning to tobacco products, people with mental health conditions and mental illnesses need to seek professional treatment. Another individual factor that influences risk is stage of development. Teens are at increased risk for addiction because their brains are still developing. Environment Your environment includes your family, culture, peers, community, and the media (Figure 11.11). All of these components affect your risk for using tobacco. Figure 11.11 You are much more likely to use tobacco if celebrities you follow or people in your friend groups, culture, school, family, or neighborhood use tobacco or are open to using tobacco. What other people in your environment may influence your perspective on tobacco? Attitudes about Tobacco in Your Environment s/Shutterstock.com Diego Cervo/Shutterstock.com andrey_l/Shutterstock.com Friends Relatives Social Media Influencers Classmates and Neighbors Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 380 Unit 4 Avoiding Hazardous Substances