For Adolescents

The prevalence of tobacco use and dependence among adolescents—as well as the medical consequences of nicotine exposure—suggest that pediatric primary care settings should deliver tobacco cessation treatments to both youth and parents who use tobacco.

The Risks of Smoking During Adolescence

Current clinical guidance does not recommend medications for adolescent tobacco cessation because of a lack of high-quality studies. However, a combination of behavioral treatments—such as motivational enhancement and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)—has shown promise for helping adolescents quit tobacco.

Light and intermittent smoking among adolescents is associated with the same level of difficulty quitting as daily smoking.