Prevention of Tobacco Use Among Medically At-risk Children and Adolescents: Clinical and Research Opportunities in the Interest of Public Health

• Published in: Journal of pediatric psychology Vol. 33; no. 2; pp. 119 - 132
• Main Authors: Tercyak, Kenneth P., Britto, Maria T., Hanna, Kathleen M., Hollen, Patricia J., Hudson, Melissa M.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Atlanta, GA Oxford University Press 01.03.2008
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Adolescent; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical Research - trends; Child; Child clinical studies; children; chronic disease; Chronic Disease - epidemiology; chronic illness; Drug addiction; Female; Health Promotion; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Prevalence; prevention; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Public Health; risk behavior; Risk-Taking; smoking; substance use; tobacco control; Tobacco smoking; Tobacco Use Disorder - epidemiology; Tobacco Use Disorder - prevention & control; Tobacco, tobacco smoking; Toxicology; substance use; risk behavior; children; chronic illness; chronic disease; smoking; tobacco control; prevention; Human; Drug addiction; Chronic disease; Tobacco smoking; Clinical research; Substance abuse; Risk taking; Prevention; Adolescent; Risk factor; Child; Public health
• ISSN: 0146-8693; 1465-735X
• DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsm132

Objective Cigarette smoking and other forms of tobacco use are addictive and harmful. Though no level of smoking is safe, children and adolescents who are medically at-risk due to the presence of a chronic or life-threatening disease may be especially vulnerable to these dangers. This article provides an overview of considerations in the prevention of tobacco use in this special population. Methods This article summarizes medical aspects of childhood chronic disease and the impact of cigarette smoking, the prevalence of tobacco screening in pediatric healthcare, and levels of prevention for individuals, families, schools, and healthcare. Recommendations for clinical services and research are also included. Results There are a number of reasons to prevent and interrupt the onset of smoking in medically at-risk youth. Subspecialty clinics appear to be the most likely point of entry for prevention-based work in this area. However, no one single setting will be effective in preventing and deterring use without due consideration of other settings, perspectives, and influences on smoking uptake. Conclusions The promise of smoking prevention to improve the health and outlook of children and adolescents with chronic or life-threatening disease is high, and additional efforts are needed for this population.