Approximately 3,900 teens begin smoking every day, and your teen may be among them. FamilyFirstAid.org states that many teens who smoke frequently suffer from various behavioral issues that stem from their habit. These include sexual promiscuity and drug or alcohol abuse. Although you may experience an array of emotions when you discover your teen's new found habit, it is imperative to keep these emotions under control so that you may be better equipped to help her quit.
Step 1
Find out the cause of his habit. To effectively help your teen drop a cigarette habit for good, you need to know why he started smoking in the first place. The medical team at Mayo Clinic recommend talking to him rather than lecturing; understanding his reasons for lighting up will ultimately enable you to find a way of helping him quit.
Step 2
Devise a list of reasons for quitting. Once you have discovered her reason for smoking, help her devise a list of reasons for quitting. This needs to be done carefully though; the list needs to comprised of her own personal reasons not yours. While you can give her some food for thought, such as the money she can save, the end result needs to be a list that will motivate her to quit.
Step 3
Help him pick a quit date. Your teen's quit date is the most important part of the process. It represent the day he chooses to take his life back, but it is also a day that may prove stressful for him. For this reason, he needs to pick a date that isn't surrounded by stressful events, such as final exams or the prom.
Step 4
Take her to the doctor. While smoking cessation products aren't intended for teens, her doctor may decide she is old enough to use them. These products can include the nicotine patch or gum or prescription medications.
Step 5
Set him up for success. Cravings will surely strike, especially if his doctor feels he is too young to use smoking cessation products. To ensure his success, sit with him and help him think of activities he can participate in when the cravings hit. Taking a walk, meditating and deep breathing exercises may all be helpful once the withdrawal begins.
Step 6
Buy her a book. Allen Carr's "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking" may be an excellent resource for your teen. Carr himself was a smoker who once smoked more than 100 cigarettes per day. He discovered how to quit by kicking the psychological addiction as well as the physical addiction. Since its first publication in 1985, Carr's book has sold more than six million copies.
Step 7
Be an example for him. Your teen may believe that smoking is acceptable, especially if he sees you smoking every day. If this is the case, show him you support him by quitting with him. This not only shows him that you're not being hypocritical but also shows him you care enough about your health to join him on his journey.
