How to Help a Teen Quit Smoking
Each day, approximately 4,000 teenagers in America begin smoking, and nearly 1,000 of them become regular smokers, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center. Teens can become addicted to nicotine very quickly, often within only a few weeks of starting to smoke. While movies, TV and advertisements often glamorize smoking, parents are still the most powerful influence in their children's lives. Reclaim your power and take steps to help your teen quit smoking.
Instructions
Avoid punishments, threats, ultimatums or commanding your teen to stop smoking. Instead, remain calm and ask him why he smokes. He might say he wants to be accepted by his peers or smoking helps him deal with stress. Ask if there are any specific triggers that lead him to light up. You might ask "Do you think you smoke more when you're under stress at school?" or "I noticed you smoked more after you didn't make the basketball team. Do you still feel bad about that?" Listen without interrupting or arguing. Explain to your teen the health risks of smoking without making it sound like a lecture. Present the dangers of smoking in a matter-of fact manner. Inform her about any friends or relatives that died of a smoke-related illness, such as cancer or emphysema. Besides listing the health consequences, appeal to your teen's vanity, recommends Mayo Clinic. Point out that cigarette smoking will turn her teeth and nails yellow, lead to bad breath, cause her clothes to emit a foul odor, contribute to wrinkles and premature aging of the skin, and sap her energy to participate in sports and other activities. Encourage your teen to make a list of all the reasons to stop smoking. Work with him to set a quitting date. Avoid choosing a date near a stressful period, such as during final exams at school. Post the list on the refrigerator door or in another visible spot in your home. Tell him to refer to the list whenever he feels tempted to smoke to remind himself of the many benefits of quitting and to help him stay motivated. Seek outside support to help your teen quit smoking. Many local hospitals, wellness centers and organizations offer stop-smoking support groups for teens. Resources for quitting include the SmokeFreeTeen website, which is run by the National Cancer Institute. SmokeFreeTeen helps teens quit with different tools, including a mobile app that allows live support through instant messaging. Your teen can also call 1-800-QUIT-NOW for counseling. The American Lung Association is another resource that has a stop-smoking program designed for teens. Establish a smoke-free home, recommends the American Lung Association. Don̵7;t permit anybody to smoke inside your home under any circumstances -- no exceptions. Ensure that everybody abides by the rule, including your teen, her friends, your relatives and any other visitors. Setting limits will help control your teen's smoking and show support by demonstrating to her that she's not being unfairly ostracized -- nobody is allowed to smoke in your home. Declaring your home a smoke-free zone will also help to curb the smoking of your teen's friends and set limits to their behavior when they're around your her. Walk the talk. Children tend to mirror how their parents handle stress. If you reach for a cigarette or drink whenever you're stressed, it's likely that your teen will follow your example. Parental smoking is the biggest risk factor for children smoking, according to the American Lung Association. Quit smoking, if possible. If you haven't been successful in quitting, you can still be influential in helping your teen quit. Share with him your own struggles to quit and how it would be easier to quit if you were his age. Avoid smoking in front of your teen and remove all cigarettes and ashtrays from your home.
