The Sunday Gleaner’s highlight on the effortless purchase of cigarettes by minors reflects the general plight of our adolescents. Most health-damaging behaviours are learnt during this time and present a critical window of opportunity to prevent the development of adult diseases that can lead to death. Heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity, HIV, substance abuse are a few that come to mind, not the least of which is the epidemic of violence, where youths are the main perpetrators.