Even when I do school prevention programs, I never plead with the kids not to smoke. I simply tell them that I will show them what smoking is, what it will do to them if they take it up and then whether or not they take it up is totally up to them. But I just want them to be aware of the implications of smoking before they take it up. I always warn them at the end of the program that they should not take up smoking with the idea that they will simply get tired of it one day, or if they ever find out it is hurting them they will simply quit. It will likely get to a point where they want to quit one day, or worse yet, get to a point where they have to quit one day and they will not be able to do it. I just want them to understand that point while they still have a choice in the matter. What they do with that information is totally up to them.
The same message applies to our adult members too. Whether or not you stay off of smoking is also totally up to you. If your decision is to stay off smoking then it is imperative for you to understand that to keep that decision in place you must know to stay in control you must never take another puff!
Joel