Socioeconomic factors and other random circumstances are going to impact exposure & normalization of the behavior.

Thought experiment: Take 1000 13 year olds of equal cognitive capacity and place half in peer groups where some smoke half in peer groups where none smoke. I’m guessing there would end up being more of the first 500 that decide to take up the habit.

There is also a difference between cognitive function and reasoning capacity, the later also strongly influenced by socioeconomic factors.

Yes, but that doesn’t contradict anything that was said.

Easy to reason. You’re young, experimenting, gaining experiences at a rapid rate. A friend asks “Wanna try a cigarette?” “Sure! Why not!? One won’t kill me. I want to see what the fuss is about” then “2 won’t kill me”, “3 won’t kill me”. “I only smoke whith my buddy.” Annnd now you’re physically addicted.