Nov. 5, 1998 Media Contact: Nancy Stringer (619) 543-6163
UCSDS CALIFORNIA
SMOKERS HELPLINE OFFERS SERVICES FOR TEENS STATEWIDE
Teens who smoke, but want to quit can
now receive help from the California Smokers Helpline, a free, statewide,
telephone-based tobacco cessation program developed by researchers at the University of
California, San Diego (UCSD) Cancer Center and funded through the California Department of
Health Services.
The Helpline teen service, designed for
14- to 17-year-old tobacco users, offers several options to help with quitting, including
counseling in English or Spanish by cessation counselors, motivational self-help
materials, and referrals to local cessation resources.
"The teen service is based on our
success with the adult California Smokers Helpline. We developed this program
because teen smoking is on the rise, and few cessation programs are designed to meet this
age groups developmental needs for a successful quit," said Sharon Cummings,
research coordinator for the Helpline.
Cummings also noted that much of the
work with teen smoking to date has been aimed at preventing teens from starting. Many
adolescents, however, have already become daily smokers, and to successfully quit they
need support tailored to their age.
"Our research with 1,500 teens has
shown that about 70 percent of those who receive our counseling make a serious attempt to
quit, a higher proportion than for adults," said Cummings. "More than a quarter
of those teens are still not smoking at three months, which is a positive indicator of
their chances of remaining smoke-free long-term."
Research also shows that seven out of 10
high school seniors who smoke say they wish theyd never started, yet more than 80
percent of teens who smoked one-half pack per day as high school seniors are still smoking
five years later. As adults, most of them will be smoking more than they did in high
school.
"Without intervention, these teens
are very likely to become long-term smokers, risking their own health and the health of
their loved ones through second-hand smoke," said Cummings.
Since its inception at UCSD Cancer
Center in 1992, the California Smokers Helpline has provided services to more than
80,000 people statewide. In randomized studies, 27 percent of those who received
counseling remain smoke-free at 12 months--double the success rate of self-help materials
and similar to more intensive conventional programs.
"The American Cancer Societys
Great American Smokeout on November 19 is a great opportunity for teens from throughout
the state to take advantage of this free service," Cummings said.
Teens who would like
further information should call 1-800-7-NO BUTTs (English), or 1-800-45-NO FUME (Spanish).
For assistance with cessation from chewing tobacco, call 1-800-844-CHEW. |