All current tobacco users who responded to the advanced questionnaire were asked about different reasons they might have for smoking or using tobacco. While the sample size is small (n=54) and should be interpreted with caution, it does reveal some similarities and differences with all current tobacco users. At least seven in ten current teen users indicated they smoked or used tobacco: out of habit, because they like to smoke in social situations such as at bars or parties, to relax or reduce stress, and an addiction to nicotine. Most of these results are very similar to that for all current users and Sociable Experimenters. Teens were less likely to mention that they do it because they like it, but they were more likely to say they do it to combat boredom or because their family or friends are tobacco users.

A number of different techniques were used in the focus groups to get at reasons for smoking. These included an exercise surrounding the best thing(s) about smoking, a more in-depth discussion on reasons for smoking and finding out what teen smokers would say to a friend with whom they were smoking on why they like to smoke.

Several themes repeatedly emerged in all of the groups for the best things about smoking. There were no differences between female and male teens in the frequency of mentioning their responses.

Stress Reliever - The most commonly mentioned reason for smoking was the calming, relaxing effect it has. Connected to this is the feeling that the time spent smoking gives you an opportunity to savour a moment or give you time to think about life.

Combating Boredom - For some teens, smoking gives them something do to. It is an activity to pass the time or make them look busy if they are alone. "If you are sitting around doing nothing, you might as well be smoking."

Psychological and Social Effects - Some of the attitudinal benefits of smoking are feeling cooler or older, getting the attention of boys, and feeling like noone can bug you. There is also a strong socializing effect in that you can be with your friends and have something you can do together. "Everybody is doing it."

Physical Effects - A variety of physical effects were mentioned by teens as reasons for smoking ¾ sensation in the mouth, the head rush, "instant oral gratification" or, nonspecifically, the feeling it gives you.

It’s Just Good - A few teens had trouble articulating what they thought was the best thing about smoking other than liking to do it.

Smoking and Alcohol - Only a handful of participants stated the best thing about smoking was doing it while you are drinking alcohol. Once the issue was raised, teens were unanimous in the stance that smoking and drinking go together and that they smoke more when they are drinking.

Smoking After a Meal - Similarly, only a few participants mentioned the best thing about smoking centering on having a cigarette after a meal, although, one or two female teens mentioned it as a meal replacement.

Sixteen to 19 year old participants were given a thought bubble exercise to summarize to a fellow smoker why they like to smoke. Three main themes emerged from this exercise for why these older teens like to smoke:

Calming effect – "it’s a way to help me relieve stress"

Passing time – "it gives me something to do when I’m bored"

For the pleasure and to address a craving – "it gives me that feeling I need"

Other lesser mentioned reasons for liking to smoke involve the social aspect, the connection to drinking, that it is better than being addicted to drugs or alcohol and the inevitability of death despite smoking.

There was a clear connection throughout the groups between smoking and role models. A majority of respondents expressed that either older ("cooler") kids or their parents influenced them to try their first cigarette. While movies and television shows have more of a conscious influence on teens, advertising plays less of a conscious role, but certainly plays a role in their image of different cigarette brands.

While advertising from tobacco companies is not a reason for teens to smoke it does influence them, despite their cries of not being affected by any type of advertising. First, the myth of teens or adults not being affected by advertising must be dispelled. While we all tune out advertising due to the amount we are subjected to, a large portion still reaches us consciously or subconsciously. The fact that it is reaching teens is evident in their recall of the various methods of advertising used – billboards, magazines, event sponsorship, movies – as well as their recall of the strategies or positioning of specific brands.

Teen smokers in the groups unknowingly revealed the influence of advertising saying that it might make you feel like having a cigarette but it wouldn’t make you start. Most teen smokers in the focus groups saw through the ploys of presenting good-looking happy people in a young social situation with their cigarettes but when asked what would be the best way to market cigarettes were they a tobacco executive, they mimic the current marketing strategies employed.