297 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 9 Tobacco and Vaping tobacco use. Public service announcements (PSAs) are media messages that support public health. Successful campaigns emphasize short- and long-term health effects, strategies for refusing tobacco, and the fact that most young people do not use tobacco. Young people who regularly see these campaigns are less likely to use tobacco products. The decision about whether or not to use tobacco products ultimately lies with you. You can use several skills to protect yourself from tobacco use. These skills include building healthy relationships, learning to manage stress, thinking critically about the media you see, and using refusal skills. Build Healthy Relationships Young people may feel pressured to use tobacco if they have close friends who use these products. Fitting in during social situations if other people are smoking, vaping, or chewing tobacco can be difficult. In healthy friendships, however, your friends respect the choices you make and do not pressure you to engage in unhealthy behaviors. People choose friends because they enjoy spending time with them, not because they use tobacco products. If your friends do not respect your decision to avoid tobacco products, focus on developing other friendships. Perhaps you have grown apart from some of your other friends. Try to form friendships with people who respect you and accept your choices (Figure 9.20). In addition to friendships, building healthy relationships with your family can help prevent tobacco use. Have open conversations with family members to know their views of tobacco use. If you have family members who use tobacco, talk to them about the dangers of tobacco on their health and the health of others and offer to help them quit. Learn to Manage Stress Some people start using tobacco products to relieve stress, help them relax, or not worry about a difficult situation. Using tobacco actually increases stress, however. A nicotine addiction causes more issues than it solves. It also has negative mental and social consequences. Fortunately, there are many ways of managing stress that are more effective than relying on cigarettes, vaping devices, or smokeless tobacco. Instead of using tobacco products, try using a stress management technique that works Characteristics of Good Friends Versus Toxic Friends Toxic Friends Good Friends Respect your choices Do not pressure you to try unhealthy behaviors Trust each other Are honest Are attentive Care about your well-being Are good listeners Do not judge you Support you Forgive you Are helpful Do not respect or accept your choices Pressure you to try unhealthy behaviors Talk badly about you to others Lie often Knowingly give you bad advice Take advantage of you Constantly judge you Put you down Hold long grudges Are never there when you need them Frequently change your friendship status Stay loyal through good times and bad times Spill your secrets Figure 9.20 It is important to form friendships with people who show characteristics of a good friend, such as respecting your choices and being supportive.