When should a young adult be allowed to make the decision to smoke?

Question:

My 14 year old granddaughter is living with her father now and he allows her to smoke. She has always lived with her mother but chooses to live with Dad and is becoming quite wild in general. It breaks my heart that she would smoke. Do you think that 14 is old enough to make that decision?

Answers:
absolutely not. i don't even think 18 is old enough, even though it's the legal age. i think most teens are too overcome by peer pressure and media pressure to know what is good for them, who they really are, or what they need/want in their lives. to allow a 14-year-old girl to smoke seems very irresponsible of her father. is there any way you could talk to the school guidance counselor, a family doctor, or another neutral party who might be able to intervene?

Other Answers:
NO, 14 sounds way too small, its not even legal right?

Of course not! I think kids are at their all time dumbest at the age of 14, I know I was. Its really out of your hands though, just be there for her to come to and talk.

No. I smoked from probably about 14 until I was 24. 10 years under my belt, and I'm still so young. She should be able to make the decision when she is of legal age. Where I live it is against the law to provide ciggarettes to minors. It is punishable by a hefty fine. I wouldn't be to hesitant in reporting him. It is her health at risk here. Thankfully I dont' have any long term effects (that I know of yet). She doesn't think about her health at this age, her father isn't thinking of her, so someone must.

She is too young to smoke, Why her father lets her, is terrible.
Goodness, Just becauses he smokes, and naturally, she will, grown up..smoking..at 14.
It well effect her life......more so, when she is old enough to have a child....
My best to you.......Wish I could really say something....
My son, wanted to smoke....I told him, he wanted to started smoking ( age 12 to 14).......If you smoke, you will remain the small height you are now......It will stop your growth.....
So, he did not...now he is 6'3"......asked me when he was 17.
I am tall enough...can I smoke? I do not want to get taller.
Maybe tell her, which is the truth..it will effect her, when she
has a unborn child within her body. It is the truth....

never..it's bad..but it should be atleast 18

Absolutely not. The brain is not fully developed at age 14.
A 14 year old will make decision based on "right now" and not even be able to comprehend life in 5 or 6 years.
If she has already started, she is probably already addicted. She will need help to quit, but no amount of help will do any good unless she really wants to quit.
Most 14 year olds don't care about cancer or emphysema, but maybe you could find information for her on how damaging smoking is to her appearance---huge factor for a 14 year old girl!
It makes them stink, yellows the teeth and fingers, causes premature wrinkling, sagging skin around the mouth and neck...
She may think that smoking now will make her look older, but she may not want to look like a grizzled woman by 25 or 26....

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When should a young adult be allowed to make the decision to smoke?

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