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Help Your Kids Quit Smoking
Every day, about 3,000 U.S. teenagers start smoking. If you're a parent of a young smoker, you can take steps to help your child quit. "First of all, it helps to understand why teens smoke," says Kapi'olani adolescent specialist Robert Bidwell, M.D. "When you understand the reasons, you can make a more convincing case for quitting and support your child in breaking the habit."
Why kids smoke
- Much of cigarette advertising focuses on getting teens to smoke. If asked, most teens say tobacco ads don't influence them, yet one study showed they generally smoke the three most advertised brands -- Camel, Marlboro and Newport. Studies also found that youth smoking increased by 73 percent during the 10 years following the introduction of the Joe Camel cartoon.
- The unconscious mind can be conditioned. Advertising and entertainment figures give the impression cigarettes give pleasure and can make you popular -- especially with the opposite sex.
- They think smoking will make them look more grown-up.
- They believe smoking will reduce their appetite and help them control their weight.
- Smoking reduces stress. Many teens find this an especially appealing factor during the stressful adolescent years. Studies show that nicotine not only reduces stress, but also eases pain and increases mental alertness. Nicotine's significant drawback as a drug, however, is its extremely addictive quality. It's also the number one cause of lung cancer.
- They think they won't become addicted. When asked why they smoke, teens generally respond, "I just like to smoke," or "I can quit anytime I want." In reality, however, studies have shown teens can become addicted to nicotine after smoking as few as three cigarettes. Other studies have shown nicotine addiction is as hard to break as heroin or cocaine addiction, making quitting difficult.
What you can do
 Although you may think that your kids only have ears for what they hear in movies and on TV, parents still have the greatest influence on their adolescents' lives, experts say.
- Talk to your kids about the risks of using tobacco. Don't cover up the fact that a relative or family friend died of a tobacco-related illness.
- If you smoke, quit if you can. Don't smoke around your kids, and don't leave your cigarettes where they can get to them. Parental smoking is the largest risk factor for kids smoking.
- If you have younger children, talk to them as early as age 5 and keep up the talking through high school. Statistics show that many kids who start using tobacco begin by age 11; many are addicted by age 14.
- Discuss ways your kids can refuse tobacco from their friends.
- Talk about tobacco advertising and how it falsely glamorizes smoking and tobacco use.
How to Help Them Quit
Teens stand the best chance of quitting if they get some help. New studies have found smokers who don't use any smoking-cessation aids have a 96 percent chance of lighting up again within a year.
But smokers who use over-the-counter nicotine patches or other nicotine replacement products have a 26 percent success rate after one year.
People who use a cessation aid and seek counseling have an even higher likelihood of quitting permanently.
Be sure to talk to your doctor before letting a child use an aid. Confirm it's age-appropriate and won't interfere with any medications the child takes.
Support from family and friends also helps. The child should tell people she is trying to quit and may be grouchy or edgy for a few days. The child also should ask smokers not to smoke around her.
Help your child find positive ways to reduce stress, such as participating in sports or noncompetitive activities, such as walking, hiking or yoga.
Finally, be aware that relapses do occur. To prevent discouragement, remind your child that few people successfully quit smoking the first time they try. Rather, most try four or five times before they quit permanently.
Quitting Resources
The following organizations can provide information, cessation programs, and online or telephone support to teens trying to quit smoking:
American Cancer Society - www.cancer.org
American Lung Association - www.lungusa.org
American Heart Association - www.americanheart.org
Nicotine Anonymous - www.nicotine-anonymous.org
QuitNet - www.quitnet.org
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