Posted on August 24, 2009

While the war against substance use and abuse rages on, the attacks on the use of tobacco have grown more intense. Now, research is demonstrating that parents play a key role in the way their teens will approach the use of tobacco.

A recent Science Daily report found that a program called Tobacco-Free Duo, started in 1993 through collaboration between the Country Council of Västerbotten County and the schools in the county’s municipalities, demonstrated that a clear commitment from adults against the use of tobacco is expected by their children.

These findings were part of research from Umeå University in Sweden and also demonstrated that this commitment from adults can prevent teenagers from starting to smoke or use snuff.

A central component of the Tobacco-Free Duo program was to include adults in the task of supporting adolescents in saying no to tobacco. Maria Nilsson evaluates the effects of the program in her dissertation and examines how adults and especially parents should approach the use of tobacco among children.

While no change in smoking among children was observed at the national level, it did decline for Tobacco-Free Duo, which paired one adult with one teenager. The program has proven to be viable in the municipalities throughout the years.

An interview study was conducted which found that 15-year old smokers engage in the activity as a way to gain control of their feelings and their situation during the tumultuous teen years. These teens expect grown-ups to intervene against their smoking and attribute close adult relationships with smoking less or attempting to quit.

Maria Nilsson shared in the Science Daily report: “Children expect adults to work against tobacco. They say this is important and that grown-ups can make a difference by showing a clear and positive commitment.”