Nicotine Addiction in Foster Care Teenagers

Due to particular social status, institutionalized children have always been deprived of the opportunities available to the children of the general population. Raised in foster families, which would often change during the course of their lives, these children grow up without developing self confidence, without being able to dream of having a normal life. In order to ensure a secure family environment, a close relationship must be established between the minor and the foster parent. Unfortunately, in most cases, foster parents have an average education level and the knowledge they could impart to the children is minimal. Although numerous studies showed the association between the social protection system and low school graduation rate, the cause of lower school performance could not be determined. The system itself, childhood and teenage maltreatment or other circumstances these children were subjected to during their life could be considered causes of low school performance. Higher percentages of smokers were documented among institutionalized children, in comparison with the national lots that were not included in the social protection system.