It was announced this week that smokers as young as 12 are to get nicotine patches to help them break their addiction. Children's Express finds out what young people think of the idea.
| I don’t think it’s a good idea for kids to have nicotine patches. It’s their own fault for smoking anyway. |
Claire Hughes, 12, Blakelaw
I don't think children should smoke because you can get cancer. And I don't think nicotine patches should be given to children either. None of my friends smoke. When I'm older, if I have children that smoke, I would ground them.
Amy Soanes, 9, Cowgate
Children shouldn't smoke because it's bad for them. I think nicotine patches for children is a good idea because it will stop them smoking. I think smoking should be made illegal for everyone because it's destroying people's health. I think stress makes young people smoke. I don't have any friends who smoke. There's nothing good about smoking.
Sarah Gurkin, 11, Blakelaw
Smoking gives you cancer when you're older. I don't think children having nicotine patches is a good idea. I think smoking should be banned because it's bad for you. I think young people get into smoking through people daring them and things like that.
Ashley Warneford, 14, Lobley Hill
It's not a good idea for children to smoke because it can damage their health. I think patches for children is a good thing because it will stop them from smoking and help them. I think smoking should be made illegal because people are dying from it. I think young people start to smoke because their friends do it.
Stephanie Wilson, 11, Blakelaw
Young people shouldn't smoke because they can damage themselves and when they get older they might regret it. You can also damage others if you smoke around them. I don't agree with nicotine patches for children. If a child has done something wrong, you would tell them not to do it again, and they would have to learn how to control it.
I think children start smoking because they see adults do it and they copy. If I ever had children who smoked I would explain how it can damage them and if they didn't take notice I would stop them from going out.
Samantha Newby, 13, Cowgate
Children shouldn't smoke because it's bad for their health and it costs too much money. I don't think it's a good idea for kids to have nicotine patches to stop them smoking. It's their own fault for smoking anyway. I don't think it's a good idea to ban smoking for everyone, because some parents might be under a lot of stress.
I think young people start to smoke because they want to be like their friends. They also get it from their parents I think. Some people smoke because they know they're doing something wrong and they like the danger of it. Practically all of my friends smoke.
Kayleigh Warneford, 12, Lobley Hill
Children shouldn't smoke. I don't really think nicotine patches are a good idea for children to help them stop though. I think smoking should not be allowed at all for anyone. If my mam smoked and something happened to her I wouldn't be happy. I think children smoke to look good.
Andrea Dixon, 15, Blakelaw
I don't think children should smoke. If you smoke, you die. I think nicotine patches are a good idea, especially during your teenage years when you might get addicted. They should be given a try. To my mind it doesn't make any difference if we make smoking legal or not, people are still going to do it. I think peer pressure makes people start smoking.
About the team
Interviews by reporter Gavin Mather, 12. Junior Jury is a weekly column published in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.
