Smoking intervention with adolescent substance abusers. Initial recommendations

Recent increases in adolescent cigarette smoking have provided an impetus for developing effective youth smoking-cessation interventions. Adolescents treated for substance abuse are a particularly important target for tobacco use intervention given the high prevalence and persistence of smoking among this subgroup of youth. The few studies to date of adolescent smoking cessation have demonstrated little success in effecting change in tobacco use. In the absence of empirical evidence, recommendations for tobacco intervention with substance-abusing adolescents are proposed based on information from several sources: studies of adolescent smoking cessation, adolescent developmental considerations, issues specific to substance abusers, motivational concerns, and adult smoking-cessation techniques. An outline is provided of components to consider for inclusion in a substance-abusing adolescent smoking intervention. It is suggested that tobacco-focused interventions be incorporated as a routine part of treatment for adolescent substance abuse.