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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Scientific research has yet to find a good way to encourage teenagers to kick the smoking habit.
Investigators who reviewed 15 studies on smoking cessation programs for kids report none really got the job done very well. The programs ran the gamut from those using nicotine replacement products like the patch and gum, to those taking more of a counseling approach. Nine of the studies used a variety of methods to get kids to quit but results were still mixed.
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Of all the methods used, the investigators report the more complex approaches appear to show the most promise, probably because they are 'designed to respond to the many issues that characterize young persons' smoking.'
Perhaps one of the best findings in these studies was a rather ambivalent attitude about smoking among many of the young people involved. The researchers believe this shows teens aren't as committed to smoking as many adults and thus might be more easily convinced to give it up. 'This ambivalence provides a tremendous opportunity to help them quit,' reports study author Jonathan Winickoff, M.D., an assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School in Boston.
The bottom line, however, is much more study is needed to identify effective ways to help kids quit smoking. One key is targeting parents as well as the kids. 'We know that one way to help youth quit and not initiate smoking is to help parents quit,' reports Dr. Winickoff.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: The Cochrane Library, published online Nov. 20, 2006
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