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Seminar seeks ways to stub out smoking among young people
A seminar, Smoking cessation and young people, has been organised by the Health Promotion Agency (HPA) to look at ways to help young people give up smoking. Research undertaken in Northern Ireland with pupils in forms 1 – 5 revealed that over half smoke their first cigarette before they reach 13 years of age. The same research also shows that more girls have tried smoking and continue to smoke compared to boys.¹
Speaking at the seminar Victoria Creasy, Senior Manager for Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco at the HPA, said: “Helping young smokers to quit is a challenging task. Of the people in Northern Ireland who set a quit date through smoking cessation services last year, those aged between 11 and 16 were the least likely of all age groups to quit successfully. Today is about highlighting what works and how we can support young smokers to give up.”
The seminar includes a range of experts from Scotland, England and Northern Ireland who will have the opportunity to highlight what is currently happening in their area with young people and smoking cessation.
Dr Amanda Amos, Reader in Health Promotion, University of Edinburgh, said: “A young person’s understanding of smoking is very different to that of an adult’s in that they think they are in control of the situation and can quit at any point. They do not see themselves as smokers, will say they are just a ‘social smoker’ and believe they can give it up at a time of their choosing in the future but the fact is that the smoking is already controlling them by this stage.
“We know that young people who want to give up find it difficult to do so. We also know that smoking cessation services for adults are unlikely to meet the specific requirements for a young person to stop smoking successfully. Today’s seminar is giving all those who work with young people a great opportunity to see what can be done to help them become an ex-smoker.”
Over 100 people attended the seminar at the Rosspark Hotel, Kells, which included a wide range of delegates particularly those with an interest in the health of young people.
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Notes
to the Editor:
There will be a media facility on Wednesday 15 March between 11:15 – 11:45am at Rosspark Hotel, Kells when Victoria Creasy, HPA, and Dr Amanda Amos, University of Edinburgh will be available for interview.
The seminar will be chaired by two young people; Vishal Sridhar and Deepak Sharma both are members of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People’s Youth Panel.
The Smokers’ helpline 0800 85 85 85 is a free service which is staffed by trained counsellors offering advice and support to anyone committed to kicking the habit.
The programme for the seminar can be viewed by visiting: www.healthpromotionagency.org.uk/work/training/courses/smoking2006.htm
¹ Central Survey Unit. Young Persons’ Behaviour and Attitudes Survey. Belfast: Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, 2003.
For further information contact:
Contact Jenny Dougan or Rosie McGaughey on 028 9031 1611. |
