The use of motivational enhancement therapy and the quit 4 life program as a means to facilitate adolescent smoking cessation

This study looked at two treatment methods for adolescent smoking cessation: the first was four sessions of motivational enhancement therapy (Group A) while the second was completion of the Quit 4 Life workbook (Group B) over a period of four weeks. Neither of these treatments were previously used in an outclient substance misuse treatment setting to treat adolescent smoking. It was proposed that both treatment methods used in an outclient environment would result in reduced nicotine dependence when compared to a control group (Group C). A marginally significant difference was found between all three groups in week four. In addition, a marginally significant difference was found when comparing differences between treatment and no treatment at all through weeks one to four. Treatment effect was shown on an individual level as the majority of participants in Group A (69.23%) reported a decrease in nicotine dependence and 76.92% reported a decrease in smoking cigarettes from post-test scores. Five participants in Group A also reported quitting smoking. Group B participants reported a decrease in nicotine dependence in five participants (38.46%) while 53.85% reported a decrease in the number of cigarettes smoked per week. One participant in Group B reported quitting smoking at the six-month measure. Eight Group C participants (61.54%) reported a decrease in nicotine dependence at the six-month measure when compared to post-test measures. A total of two group C participants reported quitting. A qualitative analysis revealed participants were concerned about the health effects of smoking in the two treatment groups. It was concluded that the two treatments may have been beneficial for adolescents in reducing nicotine dependence in an outclient setting on an individual participant level. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)