Prevention of smoking among school children: recommendations for policy development

Abstract

THIS paper reviews the evidence concerning strate gies for reducing the prevalence of smoking among British teenagers, in the light of the decline among boys and increase among girls since 1966. Successful policies require consideration of all relevant factors. In order of priority, these include: parents, peers, smoking by teachers, cigarette advertising, and illegal sales by tobacconists - in addition to ignorance of the risks. Suggestions for improving current research designs and recommendations for action by district health authorities (DHAs) schools and local education authorities (LEAs) are also included. For DHAs, adults rather than children are recommended as the priority target group. Schools should be encouraged to conduct regular prevalence studies, develop appropriate curricula, ban smoking on the premises and involve parents fully. Educational programmes should begin by about age 8-10, with a high priority for the 11-13 age group. Programmes based on education for personal growth are probably preferable to purely information giving approaches, but both can be effective if the learner is actively involved.