Tobacco Use:
Children and Adolescents
Across the U.S., more than 3 million children and adolescents
are smoking cigarettes.
(1)
Use of smokeless tobacco is estimated at 10% among high school
students. (2) An estimated 39% of households with one or more
children aged 6 or younger contain at least one smoker.
Cigarettes, spit tobacco and environmental tobacco smoke are
hazardous to the health of children and adolescents. Young, active
smokers have increased prevalence and severity of respiratory
symptoms and illnesses and decreased physical fitness. Spit tobacco
users have increased risk of oral cancer and leukoplakia. Children
exposed to tobacco smoke have higher rates of lower respiratory
tract infections, chronic middle ear infections, pneumonia, and
lung cancer. (2) Passive smoke exacerbates asthma and allergy
symptoms and decreases pulmonary function and rate of lung
growth.
Sources
(1) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1995
(2) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1994
Tobacco Cessation: Children &
Adolescents
Please note: Resource links provided here do not imply
endorsement by Texas Medical Association.
Recommendations of Major Authorities
Children/Adolescents
Tobacco
American Academy of
Pediatrics
|
Clinicians should obtain a history of environmental
tobacco smoke exposure when encountering a child
with a respiratory illness, and should inform both
patients and parents about the hazards of tobacco
use. |
American Medical
Association
|
Adolescents should receive annual screening and
health guidance to promote avoidance of tobacco
use. A cessation plan should be provided for
adolescents who use tobacco products. |
National Cancer
Institute
|
1.
Anticipate
the risk for tobacco use at each
developmental stage.
2.
Ask
about exposure to tobacco smoke and tobacco use at each
visit.
3.
Advise
all smoking parents to stop and all children not to use
tobacco products.
4.
Assist
children in resisting tobacco use; assist
tobacco users in quitting.
5.
Arrange
follow-up visits as required. |
United States Preventive Services Task Force
|
Tobacco cessation counseling on a regular basis for
all persons who use tobacco products. Pregnant
women and parents with children living at home
should be counseled on the potentially harmful effects of
smoking on fetal and child health. Anti-tobacco messages
should be included in health promotion counseling of
children, adolescents, and young adults. |
All Major Authorities
|
Primary care clinicians should counsel both parents
and children about the importance of avoiding
initiation of tobacco use and of stopping tobacco use
after initiation. |
Clinical Guidelines
Children/Adolescents
Tobacco
Clinician's Handbook of Preventive Services
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1994
-
Select "PPIP"
-
Select
Children/Adolescents: Counseling
from Table of Contents
-
Chapter 23: Tobacco
(Basics of Tobacco Counseling)
Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality
Clinical Guideline #18: Smoking Cessation
-
Select "Guidelines and Medical Outcomes"
-
Click on "Clinical Practice Guidelines
Online"
Links for
Texans
Children/Adolescents
Tobacco
National Cancer Institute
-
Click on "International Cancer Information
Center"
-
Select "Patients and the Public"
American Cancer Society
-
Click on "Cancer Information"
-
Scroll down to "Patient/Family
Information"
American Heart Association
-
Click on "Home, Health & Family"
-
Select "Kids Only"
American Lung Association
-
Click on "Learn About"
-
Select "Smoking and Tobacco Control"
Healthfinder
-
Click on "Search"
-
Select "Smoking
Links for Texas
Physicians
Children/Adolescents
Tobacco
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
Clinician's Handbook of Preventive Services
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1994
-
Select "PPIP"
-
Select
Children/Adolescents: Counseling
from Table of Contents
-
Chapter 23: Tobacco
(Family & Provider Resources)
Texas Tobacco Resource
Catalog
Complete listing of materials available in Texas.
National Cancer Institute
-
Click on "International Cancer Information
Center"
-
Select "Health Professionals"
American Cancer Society
-
Click on "Cancer Information"
-
Scroll down to "Electronic Publications for
Health Professionals"
American Heart Association
-
Click on "Healthcare Professionals"
Docs Ought to Care
Posters, T-shirts, bumper stickers, and other items available
for a nominal charge.
(713) 528-1487
Medical Matrix
Peer-reviewed, annotated, updated clinical medicine
resources.
Tobacco
Use: Adults
Chances are ... you see patients who use tobacco in your
practice.
(1) In Texas, 23.2% of adults 18 and over are
current smokers.
Chances are ... you CAN do something about your patients'
tobacco use.
A physician's advice to quit is a powerful
motivator for attempting to stop.
Tobacco is a potent human carcinogen. A majority
of cancers of the lung, trachea, bronchus, larynx, pharynx, oral
cavity, and esophagus can be attributed to the use of smoked or
spit tobacco. Smoking promotes atherosclerosis and is a
significant risk factor for myocardial infarction and
cardiovascular, coronary and peripheral artery disease. It is a
risk factor for respiratory illnesses such as COPD and pneumonia
and increases the risk of osteoporosis. Smoking during pregnancy
can cause perinatal death, low birth weight, preterm delivery,
can increase the risk of miscarriage, and can result in fetal
growth retardation. (2) An association has also been made between
smoking and an increased risk of SIDS.
Sources
1. Centers for Disease Control, 1996
2. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, 1996
Tobacco Cessation: Adults
Please note: Resource links provided here do not imply
endorsement by Texas Medical Association.
Recommendations of Major
Authorities
Adults
Tobacco
All Major Authorities
|
Physicians should provide smoking cessation
counseling, treatment, and referral to patients who
smoke.
|
Clinical
Guidelines
Adults
Tobacco
U.S. Preventive
Services Task Force
Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, Second Edition
, 1996
-
Select "TEXT"
-
Click on "Counseling to Prevent Tobacco
Use"
-
Scroll to "Clinical Intervention"
Clinician's Handbook of Preventive Services
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1994
-
Select "PPIP"
-
Select
Adults: Counseling
from Table of Contents
-
Chapter 59: Tobacco
(Basics of Tobacco Counseling)
Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality
Clinical Guideline #18: Smoking Cessation
-
Select "Guidelines and Medical Outcomes"
-
Click on "Clinical Practice Guidelines
Online"
How to Help Your Patients Stop
Smoking
TMA Physician Oncology Education Program
Links for Texans
Adults
Tobacco
National Cancer Institute
-
Click on "International Cancer Information
Center"
-
Select "Patients and the Public"
American Cancer Society
-
Click on "Cancer Information"
-
Scroll down to "Patient/Family
Information"
American Heart Association
-
Select "Home, Health & Family"
-
Select "Patient Information"
American Lung Association
-
Click on "Learn About"
-
Select "Smoking and Tobacco Control"
Healthfinder
-
Click on "Search"
-
Select "Smoking
Links for
Texas Physicians
Adults
Tobacco
U.S. Preventive
Services Task Force
Clinician's Handbook of Preventive Services
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1994
-
Select "PPIP"
-
Select
Adults: Counseling
from Table of Contents
-
Chapter 59: Tobacco
(Family & Provider Resources)
Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality
Consumer's Guide #18: Smoking Cessation
(English & Spanish)
-
Select "Guidelines and Medical Outcomes"
-
Click on "Clinical Practice Guidelines
Online"
Texas Tobacco Resource
Catalog
Complete listing of materials available in Texas.
National Cancer Institute
-
Click on "International Cancer Information
Center"
-
Select "Health Professionals"
American Cancer Society
-
Click on "Cancer Information"
-
Scroll down to "Electronic Publications for
Health Professionals"
American Heart Association
-
Click on "Healthcare Professionals"
Medical Matrix
Peer-reviewed, annotated, updated clinical medicine
resources.
Tobacco
Data and Statistics
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
-
Select "Data and Statistics"
-
Search "Tobacco"
Texas Department of Health
-
Select "Search Our Site"
-
Search "Tobacco"
Texas Cancer Data Center
Return to
Tobacco Resources