How to help a child quit smoking

[Mouseville65]

Hello

I'm looking for advice on how I can help my 13 year old SDS quit smoking. He's confided in me that he has been smoking since age 11 and that he has tried to quit but gives in to cravings and when his friends are smoking.

I'm in the awkward position of not living with him full time, his mum being about punishment instead of support to quit and not having a clue If nicotine replacement is safe for children or would work?

I plan on going to the pharmacy tomorrow to seek advice but just wondered if anyone has been through this with their child and had a positive outcome?

Thanks x

Your message sounds so nonchalant. I'd be livid. I'd be bloody disappointed!

My sister had a similar situation with her DS. She tackled it by scaring the living hell out of him with graphic images of just what happens to smokers. Then she took him to the doctors and they discussed ways to help. He doesn't smoke now. In fact, he finds it pretty disgusting. He also found a new group of friends!

I'm not saying that this will work for your child. But a doctors trip can't hurt?

i'd start with a stop at the dr.'s office. i'm not sure if he's a candidate for the patch but the dr. will be able to discuss the options.

This worked for my dad but could work for a child.

He doesn't need to actually give up, he needs to see how long he can go without a cigarette. To start with it might be 10 mins or an hour but every time he needs to extend the time between cigarettes.

For the peer pressure perhaps a reward so he can say, "if I go a week, 2 weeks, 2 months then my dsm is getting me X Y or Z"

Depending on how often he smokes giving up has stages, at first he will cough, then he will start coughing up horrible black plem, this is when many smokers go back to smoking because it is horrible.

It normally takes about 4 weeks to actually feel better.

@AliceCherry that was massively unhelpful. Shut up.

@Mouseville65 you need to take him to a doctor to be quite honest. If he has come to you for help, that's the best place to start, or in the very least take him to a pharmacist for advice. Ask for some privacy and they will take you into a side room so you can have a chat.

I'd be pretty disappointed too but the fact he has chosen to seek help is something he should be proud of. The fact he wants to give up himself suggests to me he doesn't need scare tactics but going to the pharmacy is a good start.

Depending on the living situationt might be difficult for you or his other parent (who I assume you're with) to take him to his Dr. I have no idea what the possible treatments are for a child but the pharmacist should at least outline his options so he is better informed for a Dr appointment if it is required.

Good luck to him!

@SnowdropFox you hot the nail on the head re doctors.

@AliceCherry the reason he has confided in me is that I don't rage, he's used to shouting as a basic form of communication and lol where it has got him. He is no angel but he is trying to make changes in several ares and I'm supporting him in a calm but form way.

To everyone else thank you for understanding and offering support. I'll be going to the pharmacy today.

Also it's worth noting that when he stays with us he doesn't smoke, so from Friday - Sunday and longer over school holidays he can manage it, when I asked him why he said it's because he Carnt sneak it in and so he'd have to steal from his dad which he won't do. I think this shows he can stop it's just dealing with peer pressure and cravings when around other smokers I think.

Let us know how it goes!

Hi op, you sound like a really lovely, supportive step mum. I've no doubt you will have disapproved of his choices, but step mums have to tread carefully and 'discipline' isn't something they can easily dish out. What does his dad say about it or isn't he aware?

Far from ideal, but if you give him support and seek advice with him on stopping smoking by other means that don't work, perhaps he'll consider vaping? Dh smoked for many years and nothing else worked until he vaped. He's not smoked in 3 years, is now on the lowest nicotine level and about to give up vaping entirely. His health is much improved and after years of failed attempts he wishes that vaping had been an option many years ago.

Good luck.