god, I need some help...

[Prussian to the Iron]

well, I have now come to find out that one of my best friends smokes. at 14. and I have no idea what to do. if he keeps on, I won't associate with him, nor will I allow him to ride with me to get to basketball games, which in turn will cause us to lose.

my question is what do i need to do to either get him to stop, or alert the police to this so that he will stop when he gets in such a huge amount of trouble? what is the whole process, how do I handle it, etc. I am so confused; I would like to keep it anonymous so I don't become the neighborhood snitch, but I can't let him keep doing this and ruin his life. he smells bad as well.



can anyone offer any guidance?

[Megas Methuselah]

god, I need some help...

Gah! Again?!

Anyways, to the problem: so one of your friends smokes? Who cares? Most of my friends in high school smoked, and some of my buddies now probably smoke. It's not a big deal, my friend. It's not like he'll pressure you into smoking, and even if he tries, it's easy to refuse. I never bothered to take up smoking in high school despite, as I already stated, having the vast majority of my friends smoking. And as for the smelling problem, it can't be half as bad as those high school kids who shower once a week.

You need to open your eyes a bit more, bro. Tolerance is a good thing.

[Strike For The South]

Light up with him

[Megas Methuselah]

Light up with him

Don't forget the NiQuil. You can't have any fun without that stuff.

[Strike For The South]

Don't forget the NiQuil. You can't have any fun without that stuff.

Niquil? Are you in Jr.high?

It's all about that lean

nor will I allow him to ride with me to get to basketball games, which in turn will cause us to lose.

you are by far the best member on this fourm. Thank you for keeping things awesome.

[Csargo]

Lock him in a closet and give him a pack of cigarettes.

[Owen Glyndwr]

Let him do his thing, you do yours. I had plenty of friends who were smokers, you get used to the smell after awhile.

[A Very Super Market]

Ask him how much money he spends on cigarettes. It's a lot.

[Megas Methuselah]

PI, you gotta take some sips of this stuff.

[Subotan]

People who have any sort of addiction deserve to be ostracised from society and be cut off from their friends. It's the only way to make a better America

[Megas Methuselah]

PI, you gotta take some sips of this stuff.

Srsly, you don't know what you're missing out here. All your friends do it, you know? You have nothing to lose.

[Lemur]

Still and all, 14 is kinda young to be getting hooked on nicotine. Getting off ciggies is a non-trivial bit of work.

Honestly, the people who should be intervening are the parents, who should be fully aware if their kid is smoking, seeing as the smell clings to clothes, hair, mouth, etc.

Never went for Robitussen, myself.

[A Very Super Market]

I know a bunch of 15-year olds who are dealing some sort of drug. It wouldn't be that unbelievable to know that a 14 year old is smoking.

[miotas]

well, I have now come to find out that one of my best friends smokes. at 14. and I have no idea what to do. if he keeps on, I won't associate with him, nor will I allow him to ride with me to get to basketball games, which in turn will cause us to lose.

my question is what do i need to do to either get him to stop, or alert the police to this so that he will stop when he gets in such a huge amount of trouble? what is the whole process, how do I handle it, etc. I am so confused; I would like to keep it anonymous so I don't become the neighborhood snitch, but I can't let him keep doing this and ruin his life. he smells bad as well.



can anyone offer any guidance?

You want to stop associating with someone because they have a bad habit? If that is so then you should lock yourself in a dark sound proof room and never leave. Just make him go away when he wants to light up.

[Scienter]

IMO 14 is too young to start smoking, I read a lot of medical records at my job and the majority of patients who have serious lung problems at age 40+ started smoking heavily in their teens.

He's still your friend, he just has a habit you don't approve of. So, politely ask him not to smoke in your car, house, etc., that's about all you can do without making him angry. If he's a considerate person, he won't smoke in your car when you give him a ride to basketball.

Chances are his parents or a teacher will catch him eventually, it's hard to get the smell off.

[Weebeast]

my question is what do i need to do to either get him to stop, or alert the police to this so that he will stop when he gets in such a huge amount of trouble? .

You remind me of my mother. At around 15 I was using drugs and my mom sent me to drug rehab center. I got out and started using again. What a waste of money and time that was. I was almost 20 when I graduated high school. Just be careful with the reckless intervention even if your intention is good. Hitting rock-bottom too hard your friend might not stand back up. One day I finally got tired and quit. Start imposing rules like no-smoking in your car. It will help to make him smoke less. I'm drug free now but still smoke. I just gradually add more silly rules in my life like not smoking inside my apartment. A Pack of Marlboro lasts for 2 and a half days now with cold weather and all.

[CCRunner]

Just drop a pack in his house somewhere his mom can find them easily

[Weebeast]

Then what? His mother gives him spanking and makes PI watch? You certainly don't cure addiction that way. All you're doing is encouraging the kid to be rebellious and puts a distance between him and his loved ones. Other than the aforemention method you can try to hook him up with a hot girl or something. Then again you might complain if they make out too much in public.

[Beskar]

The kid obviously is not mature enough to handle peer-pressure and thus smoke.

[Weebeast]

What about those with no peers like me? I also don't lay bricks for a living so if I quit smoking totally I'll turn to eating. Screwed either way...

[tibilicus]

Still and all, 14 is kinda young to be getting hooked on nicotine. Getting off ciggies is a non-trivial bit of work.

Honestly, the people who should be intervening are the parents, who should be fully aware if their kid is smoking, seeing as the smell clings to clothes, hair, mouth, etc.

Never went for Robitussen, myself.

Unfortunately it's pretty much the norm these days. Most of my friends started smoking at 14 and have continued the habit for years now, very few have quit either.

One of my friends once said "he wouldn't touch a cigarette with a barge pole". I reminded him about it the other day at the pub, he smiled and then proceeded to light-up..

[Hosakawa Tito]

How can a 14 year old afford to smoke?

[rajpoot]

How can a 14 year old afford to smoke?

lol, my thoughts exactly......I didn't try it until I was 16 something and for the next three years I was always, nearly totally broke.....never could get as many as I wanted....cigarettes are costly.....

[Prussian to the Iron]

You remind me of my mother.

perhaps i'm just a bit more caring about those close to me than most people, and more responsible than many my age.

I doubt this dad knows about it; he's a cop and my friend was in a panic to find toothpaste so he could get the smell off him (???). his mom might, but I doubt it. she might be a crazy, racist, anti-semetic b****, but she cares about what her son does.

[miotas]

The police can't actually do anything, it's not illegal for a minor to smoke.

[pevergreen]

You a lawyer in the US?

[Samurai Waki]

everyone has the friend that smokes, not that I personally endorse the bad habit. I started when I was 16, kicked em seven years later, it was my stupid decision to start, and it was also my decision to quit. He's gotta live the consequences, and as long as you don't hang out with him while he's smoking, you don't. Doesn't mean he deserves to be ostracized.

As Mr. Einstein said "I prefer quiet vice to ostentatious virtue." Nobody likes the moral police, especially at your age.

[Csargo]

The police can't actually do anything, it's not illegal for a minor to smoke.

You'll get fined in the US.

[Subotan]

perhaps i'm just a bit more caring about those close to me than most people

Or you're overreacting.

and more responsible than many my age.

...?

The police can't actually do anything, it's not illegal for a minor to smoke.

Same in the UK . They can't buy them, and the police can confiscate them if they're caught with them, but they won't get fined/charged/whatever

[miotas]

You'll get fined in the US.

I had heard it was the same in the US, maybe that's only in certain states.