god, I need some help...

[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...

[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.

[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.

[naut]

If I were you I wouldn't do anything. Is it worth losing a friend over? No. So let him be, at 14 he'll either get caught or run out of money to smoke. Which will probably solve the problem in due time.

[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