[widget id=”ad_unit-14″]ad_unit-14[/widget]With the number of smoking cessation methods available in the market today, it can be quite difficult for smokers to determine which the best one is. Things become even more complicated when the smoker is a teenager, as there are medications and treatments that they are not allowed to take or undergo.
Fortunately, there are some quit smoking methods that appear to work for teenagers. The following strategies are rated the best for teens because aside from being effective, they are safe and easy to follow.
1. Counseling
In the US, anyone who wants to gain freedom from nicotine addiction can dial 1-800-QUIT-NOW and avail of government-funded services. These include one-on-one coaching administered by a professional therapist. Counseling is a form of psychotherapy that is clinically used to treat a wide range of psychological issues. In teenagers, one of the most common roots of nicotine addiction is emotional problems that are often ignored by the immediate family of the patient. Since smoking is a form of addiction, counseling can greatly help, being one of the best methods to address addiction problems. In a meta-analysis carried out by the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, it was found that counseling is the most effective smoking cessation treatment.
2. Appeal to Vanity
Teenagers care more about their looks than other age groups. One strategy that can help young people quit sooner is to make them understand the negative effects of smoking on their physical appearance, like how it gives them an unpleasant smell, stains their teeth, gives them wrinkles, makes their skin unhealthy, etc. Also, teenagers can be informed about how smoking could impair them from doing their favorite sports and any other activities.
3. Support Group Intervention
This smoking cessation method works well for both young and adult smokers. Studies show that support groups make it easier for people to effectively deal with nicotine addiction without having to go through the difficult phase of withdrawal. In most cases, teenagers smoke because they feel no one understand their situation. Within a support group, teenagers could interact with each other, share and exchange views, and together help themselves quit.
4. Texting Programs
One common thing about teenagers is their fascination about cell phones. They love texting, spending more time on their mobile phones than any other activities. In line with this, the National Cancer Institute created a smoking cessation program with the use of this technology. They call it the Smokefree T-X-T – a free service that gives teenagers 24/7 access to tips, advice and encouragement to quit smoking.
5. Medical Intervention
Sometimes, medical intervention is necessary for the teen smoker to get away from such unhealthy habit. There are medications and treatments that can be used for teenagers as well. However, any form of drug or medical procedure should not be allowed without prescription from the doctor. Professional guidance is very much necessary to ensure the safety of the patient and the success of his or her quit smoking endeavor.
