Parent Resource Center
It's important to bring up the subject of quitting. Ask, “Have you ever thought about quitting, or tried to quit? How did it go? Have any of your friends quit smoking successfully?” Even though your child has to have the motivation to quit,11. Dino, G., Kamal, K., Horn, K., Kalsekar, I., Fernandes, A. (2004). Stage of change and smoking cessation outcomes among adolescents.Addictive Behaviors 29(5), 935 - 941. there are many ways you can get involved.
You and your teenager should work together to find out what smoking cessation (quitting) programs are available in your community. For example:
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15-year-old Sunny and her mother Audrey, also a smoker, joined a smoking cessation program together on the advice of Sunny’s doctor. “Sunny has asthma, but she didn’t connect the asthma with her smoking until after we went to cessation classes,” Audrey says. Sunny also found “support buddies” in the group whom she could call whenever she felt the urge to smoke.
There is no single “right” way to quit smoking. The key is to find a realistic strategy that your child is willing to try, to support him fully, and to have a backup plan ready in case “Plan A” doesn’t work.
Adolescent smokers who are addicted to nicotine experience withdrawal symptoms similar to those reported by adults, according to the Surgeon General.22. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (1994). Preventing Tobacco Use Among Young People: A Report of the Surgeon General. (DHHS Publication No. 017-001-00491-0). Atlanta, GA: U.S. Government Printing Office. Taylor, 15, had some withdrawal symptoms when he first quit. “He was tense for a while, and he liked to argue more,” says his father, Jack. “I got upset with him a few times. But the symptoms didn’t last.”
Once your child starts quitting, be patient. The first days without a cigarette can be tough. The risk of relapse is the highest during the first week.33. Choi, W.S., Ahluwalia, J.S., & Nazir, N. (2002). Adolescent smoking cessation: Implications for relapse-sensitive interventions. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 156(6), 625-626. Help him by scheduling a few low-stress days where he’s away from friends who smoke and other situations that trigger his desire for a cigarette. Be extra supportive. Let your child know that you realize how difficult it can be to quit, and that you’re proud of him for doing it.
It took several tries, and several months before Jenna, a teenager, quit smoking for good. “She continually stopped and then started smoking again, that was the problem,” says her father, Ken. “It didn’t seem to stick, at least not initially.” Lisa, Jenna’s mother, recalls, “It was a six-month process until there was absolutely no smoking.”
It usually takes a few attempts to quit smoking – and sometimes a lot of them. Help your teen view any setbacks as a chance to learn and adjust. Try not to act disappointed. Stay encouraging.
Like so many issues of adolescence, helping kids quit smoking is a challenge. But it’s also an opportunity for you and your teen to get to know each other better and to build a deeper relationship. Even though your child is struggling for independence, your opinions still matter, and your guidance is more important than ever. Don’t be afraid to speak up about not smoking. You may make mistakes, and there may be setbacks, but your support can make a real difference.
Next Topic: Questions About Kids and QuittingText in this section from: Could your kid be smoking? (2005)
