People who begin smoking at an early age are more likely to develop severe levels of nicotine addiction than those who start at a later age. And, these addiction patterns are set before teens even graduate from high school. Of adolescents who have smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime, most of them say they'd like to quit, but can't. Tobacco is often the first drug used by those young people who use alcohol, marijuana and other drugs. Teenage tobacco use is associated with a range of behaviors that can endanger health, including being involved in fights, carrying weapons, engaging in high-risk sexual behavior, and using alcohol and other drugs.
Teens learn how to manage nicotine withdrawal and how to prevent relapses.
The kids felt like they had someone who cares. The program uses a Life Skills approach to teach teens how to apply what they are learning in the sessions to other aspects of their lives. They learn how to reduce stress and improve decision-making, communication and interpersonal skills with family and friends. The program addresses the entire quitting process, from analyzing why they started smoking to learning how to prevent relapses. All of this is presented in a teen-friendly style.