Schools to get smoking clinics

STOP-SMOKING clinics will be run in schools as part of a new drive to help city pupils kick the habit.

Under plans being proposed by NHS Lothian, hour-long sessions will become a regular part of many teenagers' school weeks.

The health board plans to employ a second stop smoking adviser to work with young people to ensure it can cover all of the Capital's 23 high schools.

Diana Martin, NHS Lothian's stop smoking co-ordinator for young people in Edinburgh, is already going into schools, speaking in assemblies and giving advice to youngsters. However, this is the first time regular clinics have been proposed.

Youngsters aged 12 to 15 will be able to refer themselves in confidence to the clinic, and receive support and guidance on ways of giving up. The sessions will run during lunch breaks or after school.

Ms Martin, who has been in her post for two-and-a-half years since it was created by NHS Lothian, said: "We know that of those young people who are currently smoking, just two per cent are using stop smoking services. It's a lot to do with confidence – many don't believe they can do it, so they don't try.

"Quitting requires planning, setting dates, being prepared."

Studies show children who start smoking earlier are likely to continue smoking longer into their adulthood, so the stakes in persuading them to quit are high.

Teenage smoking is heavily linked to self image, and girls – who are statistically more likely to smoke than boys – find this a major barrier to giving up.

Ms Martin said "They get told when to go to school, when to go to bed, smoking is about having something in their life that they can control. It's about telling them that because you are addicted, smoking is controlling you. For young girls it's the image – more and more films and TV programmes have people smoking in them, and when you ask which characters smoke they can all tell you.

"For all of them there is also the weight issue and they continue to smoke hoping that it will keep them thin."

Although, Ms Martin cannot prescribe quitting aids she can write a referral letter to a GP who will then decide whether patches or gum would help, although under-18s are not allowed stronger drugs.

Last year, 117 young people aged 12-17 contacted the service, which also works with youth clubs and special schools, with 69 setting a quit date and 28 managing to last more than a month.

The Scottish Government wants to reduce the proportion of 12 to 15-year-olds who smoke to 11 per cent by 2010. Latest figures showed 14 per cent of 15-year-olds and three per cent of 13-year-olds in Edinburgh smoke, in both cases that is slightly below the national average which has seen a downward trend in the last two years.

Councillor Marilyne MacLaren, the city's education, children and families leader, said: "While I welcome this idea I would be keen to discuss how an initiative such as this could be extended to include other health problems affecting young people."

She added: "The health of young people is a top priority."