Chapter 9
After reading this chapter, I believe that pop culture is not the issue involving teens smoking and drinking. I think it depends who the child’s friends are and if they smoke or drink. I think it has a lot to do with peer pressure, than from ads shown on TV or in a magazine. Additionally, I agree with the author that some parents buy their children alcohol or cigarettes. However, if a parent smokes, does drugs or drinks in the home, I don’t think that child is going to grow up wanting to do the same thing. I think it all depends on the situation and how an adolescent perceives this type of behavior. Although, I do agree that college students are more likely to drink than their peers. I think this is again due to peer pressure from friends.
To add, I also think that people are more health conscious now, than individuals were 50 years ago. I believe this is why the smoking rates have gone down, and the people purchasing cigarettes are in the middle age range.