Tobacco use remains the number one public health problem. Smoking is primarily initiated prior to adulthood, therefore, helping adolescents quit is an important component of a successful tobacco control program. As such, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that schools implement prevention and cessation programs to reduce tobacco use. However, few adolescent cessation programs have been implemented in schools and fewer have been properly evaluated. Unless more information is provided to administrators about successful smoking cessation programs designed for adolescents, students will not get the help they need to quit smoking. This study was designed to address this need. A six-month evaluation of 500 participants who completed the tobacco cessation program TAP was more effective than a basic tobacco education program TEG in reducing smoking. Self-reported use was bio-chemically validated. Adolescents reported differences in smoking among three main ethnic groups, namely, Asian, Hispanic and Whites. Differences in age of smoking onset, level of addiction, baseline number of cigarettes used, end of program use, and six-month follow-up use, were reported. There were also differences in adolescents' perception of tobacco use being less harmful to user than to other adolescents like themselves, and the perception that most teenagers use tobacco. Depression was a reason for smoking and a significant predictor of success in quitting. Males and females within each ethnic group also showed significant differences. Understanding these differences may help develop more effective programs for adolescent smoking cessation, an ethical imperative.
Learning Objectives: At the end of the session, participant will be able to 1. describe psycho-social differences between smokers of different ethnic groups (e.g. Asian smokers vs. Hispanic smokers) 2. list components of an effective adolescent tobacco cessation programs.
Keywords: Ethnicity, Smoking Cessation
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Community Intervention
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.