Complex approaches show promise, with some persistence of abstinence (30 days point prevalence abstinence or continuous abstinence at six months), especially those incorporating elements sensitive to stage of change and using motivational enhancement and CBT.  We await results of recent trials of Not on Tobacco trials and more data is needed on sustained quitting that allows for the episodic nature of much adolescent smoking. There were few trials with evidence about pharmacological interventions (nicotine replacement and bupropion), and none demonstrated effectiveness for adolescent smokers. There is not yet sufficient evidence to recommend widespread implementation of any one model.
There continues to be a need for well-designed adequately powered randomized controlled trials of interventions for this population of smokers.
Brief motivational intervention for adolescent smokers in medical settings.
This study evaluated the efficacy of using a brief motivational intervention to reduce smoking among adolescent patients treated in a hospital outpatient clinic or Emergency Department. Patients aged 14-19 years (N=85) were randomly assigned to receive either one session of motivational interviewing (MI) or standardized brief advice (BA) to quit smoking. The assessment and intervention were conducted in the medical setting proximal to the patient's medical treatment. Patients were proactively screened and recruited, and were not seeking treatment for smoking. Follow-up assessments were conducted at 1, 3, and 6 months post-intervention. Self-report data indicated that 7-day abstinence rates at 6-month follow-up were significantly higher in the MI group than in the BA group, but this difference was not confirmed biochemically. Self-reported smoking rate (average cigarettes per day) was significantly lower at 1, 3, and 6 months follow-up than it was at baseline. Cotinine levels indicated reduced smoking for both groups at 6 months, but not at 1 month. At 3-month follow-up, only those in MI showed cotinine levels that were significantly reduced compared to baseline. Findings offer some support for MI for smoking reduction among non-treatment-seeking adolescents, but overall changes in smoking were small.