Every day, about 3,000 U.S. teenagers start smoking

If you’re a parent of a young smoker, you can take steps to help the child quit. But first, it helps to understand why teens light up.

Why kids smoke

• It’s easy to become addicted. When asked why they smoke, teens generally respond, "I just like to smoke," or "I can quit anytime I want." However, in reality, studies have shown teens can become addicted to nicotine after smoking as few as three cigarettes. Other studies have shown nicotine addiction is as hard to break as heroin or cocaine addiction, making the decision to quit a difficult one.
• Much of cigarette advertising focuses on getting teens to smoke. If asked, most teens say tobacco ads don’t influence them, yet studies have shown they generally smoke the three most advertised brands - Camel, Marlboro and Newport. Studies also found that youth smoking increased by 73 percent during the 10 years following the introduction of the Joe Camel cartoon.
• They think smoking will make them look more grown-up. Many teens believe smoking makes them appear more mature.
• Smoking reduces stress. Many teens view smoking as relaxing, an especially appealing factor during the stressful adolescent years.

Help them kick the habit

Teens stand the best chance of quitting if they get some help. New studies have found smokers who don’t use any smoking-cessation aids have a 95 percent chance of lighting up again within a year.

But smokers who use over-the-counter nicotine patches have a 26 percent success rate after one year, and those who use the prescription antidepressant Zyban have a 30 percent success rate after 12 months.

People who use a cessation aid and seek counseling have an even higher likelihood of quitting permanently.

Be sure to talk to your doctor before letting a child use an aid. Confirm it’s age-appropriate and won’t interfere with any medications the child takes.

Support from family and friends also help. The child should tell people he or she is trying to quit and may be grouchy or edgy for a few days. The child also should ask smokers not to smoke around him or her.

Help your child find positive ways to reduce stress, such as participating in sports or noncompetitive activities such as walking, hiking or yoga.

Finally, be aware that relapses do occur. To prevent discouragement, remind your child that few people successfully quit smoking the first time they try. Rather, most try four or five times before they quit permanently.