A smoking intervention for high-risk adolescents

Adolescent cigarette smoking is a national health issue. Research suggests that smoking during adolescence increases risk for not only regular adult smoking but is also related to a number of negative health and psychosocial outcomes. Particular subgroups within the general adolescent population, such as juvenile offenders, may be at particular risk for the negative outcomes of smoking. The goal of the present study was to test the effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing (MI) to reduce smoking among a sample of 81 adjudicated adolescent smokers compared to a Control group that received standard education about tobacco smoking. Repeated measures ANCOVA results suggest that adolescents who endorse high alcohol and drug use have a differential response to MI compared to adolescents low in alcohol and drug use. Results also suggest that gender may play a role in adolescents' response to MI and suggest that girls' level of motivation to quit smoking increased in response to MI. Implications of the results and directions for future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)