New app created to help teens kick smoking habit - AmericaNowNews.com

App helps teens quit smoking

Here's a troubling statistic: the CDC says one in five high schoolers smokes cigarettes. So how is the National Cancer Institute getting kids to kick the habit? Well - they created an app for that.

Dr. Paul Bradley says, "At one time it seemed to be getting a lot better, it does come and go in popularity, but we see an awful lot of teenagers and young adults smoking and starting to smoke."

Dr. Bradley says despite the abundance of knowledge available about the dangers of smoking, today's youngsters are still lighting up. He believes it's for a couple of reasons.

"You've got the social thing like, 'ooh I'm really cool if I smoke', and then you've got the real addiction, and of course the more they smoke the worse the addiction becomes," says Bradley.

The National Cancer Institute wants to stop this addiction, so they've created a mobile phone app to help do so. The smoke free text service sends encouraging alerts to teens wanting to break the habit. 

Dr. Bradley believes this program and others like it are crucial. "There's great smoking cessation programs, anything with a constant reminder, anything that basically taps you on the soldier and says hey this is not good hey you can be strong."

But if you have a teenage son or daughter who smokes, Bradley says do not get discouraged. "Unfortunately, it's all up to the individual and not till that individual comes to the conclusion for their own reasons will they be able to quit."

And the American Lung Association says quitting is the single most important step a smoker can take, as 392,000 people die in the United States each year from tobacco caused-disease.

Copyright 2012 America Now. All rights reserved.

 

  • Most Popular StoriesMost Popular Stories

  • Hollywood science fiction has long warned about alien invasions, but the real science may be more frightening.
    Hollywood science fiction has long warned about alien invasions, but the real science may be more frightening. We take a tour of the Center for Invasive Species to find out what microscopic organisms could be taking over the country if they aren't stopped.
  • Every pet owner knows a dog can get into just about anything around the house. One woman found that out the hard way when her dog ate a bunch of grapes! Turns out, that's one of the most dangerous foods
    Every pet owner knows a dog can get into just about anything around the house. But these common snacks could be fatal for Fido.
  • Air filters are crucial to keeping your home free of dirt and allergens, but their price range is huge. Does the performance justify the price tag?
    Air filters are crucial to keeping your home free of dirt and allergens, but their price range is huge. Does the performance justify the price tag?
Powered by WorldNow
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and America Now. All Rights Reserved.
For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.