Explain why learners who smoke are more likely to experiment with other substances.
About this question
Question 3.3 of Life Orientation Grade 12, NSC Common Assessment Task (DBE, September 2025). It tests the Term 3 ATP topic Human Factors Causing Ill-Health.
- TermTerm 3
- ATP topicHuman Factors Causing Ill-Health
- PaperNSC September 2025
- Marks2 marks for one fully developed point
Factors contributing to ill health can negatively impact an individual's health and future opportunities. Recent media reports indicate that there are high incidences of learners smoking in schools, probably due to the easy access to cigarettes and vapes. The normalisation of smoking among young people has led to a rise in experimentation and addiction, affecting their health and academic performance.
Social media plays a significant role in impacting the lifestyle choices of the youth today. Poor habits and choices made early in life could have lasting effects on the overall long-term well-being and quality of life of individuals.
A focused approach to personal well-being can help individuals make informed choices, thereby helping them to avoid harmful substances. Schools play an essential role in guiding learners towards positive habits by implementing effective measures. These measures could empower learners to make informed decisions that will benefit their long-term health and future growth.
Glossary: vapes: electronic cigarettes. [Adapted from www.pmc.ncbi.co.za]
Learners who smoke often spend time with friends who also use other substances, so peer pressure and easy access make it more likely that they will try stronger drugs.
Other points that earn marks
- Once addicted to nicotine, they may look for a stronger effect from other substances.
- Having already taken one risk, they become less afraid of trying another.
- They may use smoking to cope with stress and then look for something that gives more relief.
- Curiosity about substances trending on social media.
- Feeling more grown-up may push them to try other adult behaviours such as drinking.
More Questions On Human Factors Causing Ill-Health
A disaster is a sudden event, natural or caused by people, that seriously disrupts the functioning of a community and causes great damage, injury or loss of life.
Two other examples of disasters that may be caused by humans are:
- A veld fire can be started by a burning cigarette thrown into dry grass.
- Toxic waste can be dumped in a river that local communities use.
A social factor is the influence of other people, relationships and society on a person's behaviour and choices.
Texting while driving is a social factor because teenagers feel pressure to stay in constant contact with friends and to reply to messages immediately. This need to be socially connected takes their attention off the road and causes accidents.
Unsafe sexual behaviour is having unprotected sex with one or more partners, which puts people at risk of unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
Two reasons why this type of behaviour is still prevalent amongst the youth are:
- Many young people give in to peer pressure to experiment and fit in.
- Alcohol and drugs lower their judgement and lead to risky behaviour.
Two practical strategies that you could use to prevent yourself from becoming a victim of a disastrous situation at a major sports or social event are:
- Find out where all the exit points are as soon as you arrive, so that you can get out quickly and safely if there is an emergency.
- Avoid alcohol and drugs at the event, so that you stay sober and can think clearly and react correctly if something goes wrong.
Three ways in which the community can support the campaign so that it is more effective are:
- Community members can join the community policing forum and street patrols, so the police have more eyes on the ground and crime is reported quickly.
- Residents can report drug dealers and drug houses anonymously to the police, which helps to cut off the supply of drugs in the area.
- Parents, churches and local organisations can create safe recreational activities such as sport and youth clubs, so young people are kept busy and away from drugs.
Four possible social factors that may lead to stereotyping are:
- Stereotyping may be caused by ideas about other people learnt from family members and friends.
- It can also come from the media portraying certain groups or genders in a fixed way.
- People who do not mix with others who are different from them tend to stereotype.
- Gender inequality and racism in society also feed stereotypes.