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Teen smoking: How to help your teen quit
Want to stop teen smoking? Follow this no-nonsense approach, from setting a good example to making a plan and celebrating success.
By Mayo Clinic staffTeen smoking is a big deal. After all, teens who smoke are likely to turn into adults who smoke. If you find your teen smoking, take it seriously. Stopping teen smoking in its tracks is the best way to promote a lifetime of good health.
Start talking
You could simply tell your teen to stop smoking. It's an important message. But commands, threats and ultimatums aren't likely to work. Instead of getting angry, be curious and supportive. Ask your teen what made him or her start smoking. Perhaps your teen is trying to fit in at school, or maybe your teen thinks that smoking will help relieve stress or pressure. Sometimes teen smoking is an attempt to feel cool or more grown-up.
Once you understand why your teen is smoking, you'll be better equipped to address smoking as a potential problem — as well as help your teen eventually stop smoking.
Encourage your teen to share his or her concerns
Although the consequences of smoking — such as cancer, heart attack and stroke — are real, they're probably beyond the realm of your teen's concern. Rather than lecturing your teen on the long-term dangers of smoking, you might ask your teen what he or she considers the negative aspects of smoking. Once your teen has had his or her say, offer your own list of negatives. Consider appealing to your teen's vanity:
- Smoking gives you bad breath.
- Smoking makes your clothes and hair smell.
- Smoking turns your teeth and fingernails yellow.
- Smoking makes you look pale and unhealthy.
- Smoking causes wrinkles.
- Smoking leaves you with a hacking cough and phlegm.
- Smoking zaps your energy for sports and other favorite activities.
Of course, smoking is also expensive. Prompt your teen to calculate the weekly, monthly or yearly cost of smoking. You might compare the cost of smoking with electronic gadgets, clothes or other items your teen considers important.
Next page(1 of 2)
- Aligne CA. Prevention of smoking. In: McInerny TK, et al. American Academy of Pediatrics Textbook of Pediatric Care. Elk Grove Village, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2009:305.
- O'Loughlin J, et al. Determinants of first puff and daily cigarette smoking in adolescents. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2009;170:585.
- DiFranza JR, et al. New insights into the compulsion to use tobacco from an adolescent case-series. Journal of Adolescence. In press. Accessed Aug. 14, 2009.
- Pbert L, et al. Effect of a pediatric practice-based smoking prevention and cessation intervention for adolescents: A randomized, controlled trial. Pediatrics. 2008;121:738.
- Schepis TS, et al. Smoking cessation for adolescents: A review of pharmacological and
psychosocial treatments. Current Drug Abuse Reviews. 2008;1:142. - Child and teen tobacco use. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_10_2X_Child_and_Teen_Tobacco_Use.asp?sitearea=PED. Accessed Aug. 14, 2009.
- Guide to quitting smoking. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_10_13X_Guide_for_Quitting_Smoking.asp. Accessed Aug. 14, 2009.
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