Brother who smokes - Smoking Cessation Message Board

Emmie738 · 06-29-2005, 07:15 AM

I have a 16 year old twin brother who smokes, and my parents don't know. He smokes when he is with his friends. I have been with his him and his friends and he said he has been doing it for about a month now. He has really bad asthma and I don't want it to get worse. I don't know what to do.

Johnsternow · 06-29-2005, 01:02 PM

Emmie,

I am so sorry to here about your frustration and concern for your brother. Anyone here at this post can relate I'm sure. Some of us smoked and quit but for years listened to, yet ignored warnings and pleas from loved ones. Some of us weather X smokers or not continue trying to convince others we care about quit too. Some of us are even still smoking but now are trying desperately to quit. We understand your concerns and frustrations for sure. I sincerely wish there was a real answer and a way to make people understand or listen. You may need to be persistent with him. It sounds like he hasn’t been at it too long so it may be a good time before it gets even harder. I am interested to see what some of the others here will suggest for you though.

I understand asthma and smoking. Especially at this time of the year with some places getting heat indexes and ozone breathing alerts for outdoors. If only I would have listened to others and quit at 16, I might not be laboring to breath now, or feel like I am breathing through a wet bath towel on most days. What I would give or pay to be able to inhale and breathe that well again. I should have listened. I hope and pray he stops too.

Good Luck
JohnD

carefreeguy · 08-08-2005, 12:01 PM

I am sorry to hear about your brother smoking. Its hard when loved ones or family members engage in such harmful things. Is he smoking heavy? Is he coughing alot? Have you spoken to him about how he feels about himself smoking, why he started? Clearly, he must be going through something, stress, anxiety and the cigarettes are helping him feel better. Have you talked to him about the effects his smoking might have on his lungs? his health, his asthma? try talking to him, maybe he will quit or at best, cut down.