Ahh, we're too late. I hate that! Now, we have to help that teen quit smoking a much more difficult process than not starting. Of course, we can't make him stop. He has to want, too. But we can make the incentive to stop irresistible. Yes, I'm talking about doing whatever it takes to change this while they're under your roof. It's that important! Why? You love them. They have a 1- in-3 chance of dying from cigarette smoking not great odds. Here's five good reasons for quitting the Centers for Disease Control presents to teen smokers (go to http://tinyurl.com/7dkd8 to get more information): 1) You will live longer and live better. 2) Quitting will lower your chance of having a heart attack, stroke, or cancer. 3) If you become pregnant, quitting smoking will improve your chances of having a healthy baby. 4) The people you live with will be healthier. 5) You will have extra money to spend on things other than cigarettes. That's pretty good. But kids don't usually respond to "delayed gratification" very well. What can make them want to stop now? That's the key. They have to want to stop, and remain committed. We can support them in that goal. Discuss ways to build an escape route. Spend time together figuring out why they need to smoke. Talk about the difficulty and empathize. If you're a smoker, relay your experience and how you feel after quitting. Smoking is one of the toughest addictions to kick, so stress how much courage and strength it takes. Help the teen turn this into a major victory and better self- esteem. And get help! Nicotine is a powerful drug (and pesticide when sold commercially yuk!). It has a strong hold on daily smokers. The CDC suggests a five step approach to quitting: 1. Get ready. 2. Get support. 3. Learn new skills and behaviors. 4. Get medication and use it correctly. 5. Be prepared for relapse or difficult situations. To find out more, go to http://tinyurl.com/7dkd8. Whatever you do, do it now! In the last installment, we'll talk about the true nastiness of cigarettes. |
