Help a Teen Quit Smoking

Many teens start smoking and then, like most other smokers, have serious problems kicking the habit. You should make every effort to help your teen quit smoking, but be prepared for a difficult battle.

Instructions

Step1

Help your teen mentally prepare to quit smoking. Get him to remember what life was like before he started smoking. Bring up things like all those 5-minute breaks for a cigarette, smelly clothes, shortness of breath and all the money spent on cigarettes.

Step2

Get the smell of smoke out of your teen's clothing, room and car. Even the stale smell of smoke can make a person crave a cigarette. Use air fresheners in rooms, wash clothes and leave jackets outside for a few days to help clear them of the scent.

Step3

Cut off the financial support that is providing your teen with cigarettes. If you give her an allowance, monitor how the money is spent so you can be sure she isn't buying more packs. If your teen has a job, help her keep track of her money and show her how much more she would have if she didn't spend money on smokes.

Step4

Help your teen understand the process of quitting smoking. Nicotine stays in the body for less than 48 hours, so he shouldn't feel any physical dependence after the first 2 days. Past that point, your teen will have to have the mental fortitude to resist lighting up, but it will get easier every day.

Step5

Consider putting your teen on a nicotine patch or gum to help her ease off of the addiction. Your teen's doctor may also be able to prescribe medication to help fight the depression that some smokers feel during the first few weeks of quitting.

Step6

Encourage your teen to start exercising more once he makes the decision to stop smoking. The body's natural chemicals that are produced after strenuous exercise can help him feel better and build up the stamina lost to smoking. Exercise will also help prevent the weight gain that some smokers experience due to their metabolisms dropping once the nicotine is out of their systems.

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Encourage Kids Not to Start Smoking

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 80 percent of adult smokers start smoking before the age of 18. From the media and peers, children are under plenty of pressure to smoke. A positive adult role model is a strong deterrent in offsetting the glamorization of cigarettes.

Instructions

Step1

Quit smoking if you are a smoker. Children learn by example. However, if you cannot quit, then do not smoke in front of your children and be sure to keep your cigarettes out of their view.

Step2

Understand that as a parent, you are the most powerful influence on your children. Television, movies, music and advertising will have less of an effect on your children if you are open to frequent dialogue about the dangers of smoking.

Step3

Talk to your children about the dangers of smoking by the age of 5. Many kids start smoking as early as 11, so it is essential to communicate early on.

Step4

Be straightforward when you talk to your children about the health hazards of tobacco. Give examples of smoking-related diseases and illnesses, and don't be afraid to tell children about someone they know who has died from a smoking-related illness.

Step5

Explain that the media often glamorizes smoking. Also, address situations as they occur. Talk immediately to your children about a billboard advertising cigarettes or an actor smoking on television.

Step6

Encourage your children to feel safe talking to you about smoking. Urge them to ask you questions, and let them know that you will listen without judging.

Step7

Help your children role-play different ways to say "no" when offered a cigarette by a peer.

Step8

Know who your children's friends are and whether they smoke. Discuss with your children the dangers of smoking for their friends, and again role-play how to say no.

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Identify When a Teen Starts Smoking

Many people start smoking when they are underage and take steps to hide their behavior from their parents. There are some signs to watch for to help identify when a teen starts smoking.

Instructions

Step1

Check for the scent of cigarettes on your teen's clothing. You can also smell stale cigarettes in your teen's hair, although it stays on jackets and fleeces longer. Look for ash and burn marks on the cuffs of coats and long-sleeve shirts.

Step2

Notice if your teen becomes very irritable when you spend 3 to 4 hours with her in your sight. This crankiness can be caused by nicotine withdrawal, but sometimes it can be due to normal teen and parent tensions.

Step3

See if your teen has started to chew lots of gum or use mouthwash when he comes home. He may also start brushing his teeth at odd times during the day in an attempt to prevent tooth stains from smoking.

Step4

Watch what your teen is doing when he goes outside without any real reason. You shouldn't follow your teen, but identify the signs of smoking when he comes back inside.

Step5

Ask your teen if she has any friends who smoke. It may not be your place to alert the other teen's parents, but remember that kids who have friends who smoke are much more likely to pick up the habit themselves.

Step6

Find out what your teen is spending his money on and notice if he is asking you for a few extra dollars each day or weekend. Check to see if he's buying things like air fresheners or cologne to help cover up the smell of smoke.

Step7

Identify items in you teen's backpack or room that could be used for smoking, like lighters, matches and rolling papers. See if there are ashes around the window or if it is often left open at night. Look around the yard to see if your teen is leaving her cigarette butts in one location, like under the porch.

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Build a Teen's Self Esteem to Prevent Smoking

Many teens are pressured into smoking because they think it will help them fit in and make more friends. If you take steps to build a teen's self esteem, you can help prevent him from starting smoking.

Instructions

Step1

Help your teen work on her image so she doesn't fall into smoking to be cool. Things like new clothes and accessories can help your teen feel like she fits in with her peers. Talk to your teen about ways for her to portray her confidence to those around her.

Step2

Encourage your teen to play a sport at school. Regular exercise and athletic accomplishments will often help build self esteem to prevent smoking. Many student athletes shy away from cigarettes because they understand the health problems that come from smoking.

Step3

Talk to your teen about different ways to cope with stress, worries and social pressure. Look for an outlet to release these feelings, like music or the visual arts, to help prevent smoking. Persuade your teen to exhibit these skills for friends to build confidence and social skills.

Step4

Respect and accept your teen for the choices she makes to help boost her self esteem. Lay down clear rules for school work and leisure time, but allow your teen some breathing space and independence.

Step5

Remind your teen that the social pressures of high school will be behind him before he realizes it. Teach him how to make friends with classmates and peers, but to avoid the teens who are disruptive and unfocused.

Step6

Urge your teen to solve social problems on her own, instead of relying on a teacher or parent. Discuss the kinds of decisions your teen will be making so that she knows how to handle situations the right way. As you build the teen's self esteem by preparing her to be independent, remind her that there are some situations, like violence and drug use, that should be handled by an adult.

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