Affiliations: Schizophrenia Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental
Health (CAMH), Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Division of Addiction Psychiatry, Department of
Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Note: [] Correspondence: Tony P. George, Centre for Addiction and Mental
Health (CAMH), 250 College Street, Room CS 734, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 1R8,
Canada. Tel.: +1 (416) 535 8501 ext. 4544; Fax: +1 (416) 979 4676; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: The prevalence of tobacco use has declined substantially in the past
few decades, yet it remains the leading cause of preventable death globally.
Smoking frequency in adolescents is also alarming and is often associated with
greater susceptibility to health problems in their adult lives. Unlike the
extensive body of literature that exists for adults, research on smoking
cessation approaches for adolescents is scarce. This review discusses current
pharmacological and psychosocial interventions available for both adults and
adolescents. Anti-smoking medications approved for adult smokers are either
nicotine based (i.e., nicotine patch, gum, inhaler, nasal spray and lozenges)
or non-nicotine based (i.e., sustained-release bupropion and varenicline), all
of which improve abstinence by acting on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
(nAChRs) in the brain. Non-pharmacological interventions targeting the
psychosocial aspects of smoking addiction include brief counselling,
cognitive-behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing, contingency
management, relapse-prevention strategies, social influence and mobile
phone-based programs.
