A comparison of successful smoking cessation interventions for adults and adolescents

This review of the counseling literature analyzes the motivating and impeding factors for adults and adolescents regarding smoking cessation. Adults and adolescents prefer to stop smoking on their own; however, even brief counseling will increase their chances of success. In addition to giving support, counselors can facilitate smoking cessation by increasing clients' motivation and teaching stress management. Counselors must be aware of how the social environment can influence a client's smoking status. With recent increases in adolescent smoking, particularly among African Americans, counselors should be prepared to help an increasing population of clients who will require smoking cessation assistance.