SMOKING PATTERNS AND CESSATION MOTIVATIONS DURING ADOLESCENCE

With increased knowledge of effective prevention of adolescent smoking, there is a concomitant lack of research on effective adolescent smoking cessation. This study surveyed 77 adolescents (mean age 15.8 years) at a youth detention center in Seattle, Washington, about smoking patterns, cessation attempts, and motivations as well as withdrawal symptoms from nicotine. The results revealed that the majority of smokers had previously attempted smoking cessation (72%). The most common reasons for wanting to quit were for health concerns. Only 30.8% abstained for more than 1 month, and 35.9% abstained for less than 3 days. Nicotine craving was the most severe and most commonly reported withdrawal symptom.