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Straight talk for parents: So your teen-ager's smoking? Mom, dad still can make a difference

Cigarette smoking is the most avoidable cause of death in our society. Most teenagers already know the risks, yet thousands of youths become regular smokers every day.

Messages in the media and on every cigarette pack are clear: smoking causes heart disease, lung cancer, and emphysema. In addition:

• More than 400,000 adults die prematurely each year because of cigarette smoking.

• A smoker can develop a constant cough, chest infections, shortness of breath, and wheezing, even during the teenage years.

• Lung diseases, such as asthma, can worsen.

• Smoking causes yellow stains on teeth, bad breath and early signs of aging.