Studies show that most adolescents try smoking, over one-third become daily smokers, and nearly one-quarter become addicted to cigarettes. Significant gains in understanding and treating nicotine addiction among adolescents have not been made. Much work remains to be done concerning the developmental appropriateness and usefulness of…

Public Health Model was used to examine relationships between smoking severity (never smokers, former smokers, continued smokers) and host and environmental variables. Results indicate former smokers are more like never smokers on most risk and protective variables. Final analyses indicated continued smokers are more likely to be Non-Black and…

Reviews the theoretical and empirical bases from which inferences regarding addictive smoking in adolescence can be drawn. It appears that although a significant proportion of teenage smokers do progress to dependence, this is not an inevitable outcome for all adolescent smokers. More research is needed in this area, specifically in measurement…

Evaluates the appropriateness and feasibility of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in teenage smokers. Available forms of NRT, theoretical rationale and efficacy of NRT, ethical considerations, and the feasibility of NRT in teenage smokers are addressed. Several characteristics similar to adult nicotine dependent smokers have been found in teen…

Discusses trends in youth tobacco use, the need for tobacco cessation programs, and the status of research on these programs. Examines issues that need to be researched in regard to tobacco cessation in adolescents. Issues include: nicotine dependence and potential pharmacologic adjuncts; social, health, risk perception, and intrapersonal factors;…

Describes a cognitive-behavioral therapeutic approach to help teenagers better manage life stressors by using effective and adaptive coping skills, while identifying and addressing specific factors that lead either to smoking or maintaining abstinence from smoking behavior. Discusses specific group exercises that empower teens to take control of…

Thirty-five substance abusing adolescents completed a cigarette-focused intervention and were followed-up on at three months post-treatment. Six were abstinent from smoking at follow-up, while 17 had attempted cessation. Duration of smoking and intentions to quit predicted cessation attempts. Smoking cessation had no negative effect on substance…

Summarizes recent epidemiological data concerning gender differences in the rates of various smoking behaviors among adolescents. Discusses how gender may influence smoking initiation, maintenance, and cessation among adolescents. Reviews adolescent smoking interventions. Provides recommendations for ways in which the effectiveness of smoking…

Examines the extent to which behavioral dysregulation in late childhood predicted daily cigarette smoking in mid-adolescence. Daily smoking at age 16 was predicted by behavioral dysregulation with 67% classification accuracy. Results indicate that both individual and environmental factors conjointly contribute to the emergence of daily smoking…

Inpatients seeking treatment for substance use disorder were compared by gender on several variables. Results included (1) females were more likely to endorse dependence symptoms and report experiencing dependence symptoms at a younger age; (2) females progressed faster to regular use of drugs; (3) females were more likely to begin substance use…

A brief screening instrument used on adolescents (N=176) identified significantly more alcohol, tobacco and other drug users than primary-care physicians normally identify. Twenty-five percent of abusers were interested in receiving help. Authors argue for routinely including substance-abuse screening as a component of primary-care health…

Examines family-based variables as predictors of adolescent substance use. Overall, this study supported prior research, indicating certain family variables as predictors of adolescent substance use. Sibling marijuana use, family involvement, and religious affiliation were predictors of adolescent tobacco use. Family involvement, sibling tobacco…

This article is a description of a study that sought to examine the applicability of Ronald Akers' social learning theory. According to Akers' theory, differential associations with smokers, differential reinforcements for smoking, favorable definitions of smoking and the availability of role models (imitation) offer an explanation as to why…

Examines predictors of long-term smoking persistence for substance-abusing adolescents (N=125). Results indicate that the age of initial cigarette use and extent of smoking at the time of treatment predicts late adolescent/early adult smoking for males but not for females. Findings highlight importance of smoking intervention for adolescent…

Used the theory of planned behavior in a sample of 15- and 16-year-old students (N=285), to create a comprehensive model for predictors of adolescent smoking. Students with lower conduct/morality self-efficacy had more positive attitudes toward smoking. Discusses results in terms of potential interventions to discourage adolescent smoking. (RJM)