How to Help Teens Stop Smoking

Some teens still smoke despite numerous advertisements and health warnings about the dangers of smoking. The reasons vary, from peer pressure and wanting to fit in with their friends who smoke, to wanting to look cooler, older or edgier. While teens might believe that they have complete control over their habit and can quit anytime they want, once they are faced with the challenge of quitting, they realize that they cannot. Although you can help teens quit smoking and offer guidance if they are struggling, they have to be the one to kick the habit for good.

Instructions

• 1

  Make a list with your teen and write down all the reasons to quit. Your teen might be more successful if he sees his goal on paper. Some benefits of quitting include improved health and smell of his clothing, more energy and more money to spend on other luxuries.

• 2

  Calculate exactly how much your teen spends on cigarettes per week, month or year. Include this with her list of reasons to stop smoking. Once you calculate your final number, ask her what else she could buy with that money, like a new computer, phone or clothes.

• 3

  Mark a specific date that he would like to quit. Have him tell his friends and inform your family of this date so that he can have the support of everyone around him.

• 4

  Help her avoid triggers. Make a list with your teen and note all triggers that cause her to want to pick up a cigarette. Triggers might include being around friends who smoke or smoking out of boredom. Work with your teen and teach her to avoid these triggers by disassociating herself from that friend, if possible, or substituting cigarettes with gum instead.

• 5

  Start a new hobby. Try to sign him up for active, athletic hobbies that will help increase his stamina and energy while working off the excess weight that typically comes from nicotine withdrawal.

• 6

  Research nicotine replacement therapy. If your teen still struggles to kick the habit, talk to your doctor about a patch or gum that can substitute the nicotine. The amount of nicotine in these replacements slowly decreases until the user no longer feels the need to smoke.