Your efforts to stop your child from smoking just 'might' work according to recent research. A series of studies analyzing the success of family-based substance abuse and smoking prevention programs concluded that there is no 'sure-fire' method that works. However, pre-middle school smoking is not surprisingly a predictor of a habitual lifetime use, so programs focusing on elementary school children have the most potential for success.
A program in North Carolina aimed at families with 8-10 year olds used activity guides, newsletters and prizes to make participation more fun. Activities include practicing refusing an offer of a cigarette and include prizes such as t-shirts and books.
As it becomes increasingly difficult for school-based programs to counter the powerful influence of kid-oriented advertising, family-based prevention programs seem to hold the key to success. Apparently, even Phillip Morris can't beat out most moms and dads when it comes to smoking prevention.
