Young People and Tobacco Use - Part 2: Strategies for Prevention of Starting Smoking, the Role of the Family and Rules against Smoking in Greece

Abstract

Tobacco use prevention should start from childhood and be targeted on the avoidance of consuming cigarettes and other tobacco products, and reduction in the exposure of young people to nicotine addiction. Legislation against smoking should focus on young people in order to decrease the smoking rates in this group. The family can play an important role in the prevention of smoking among children and teenagers. When there is a true relationship, based on trust and good communication among family members, there is a good chance that the younger members will never start smoking. In Greece the adoption of European guidelines against smoking resulted in a variety of measures that include the restriction of advertisement and selling of smoking products, especially to people younger than 18 years of age, anti-smoking campaigns and written notification on the packaging of smoking products, with the aim of discouraging children, teenagers and young adults from starting smoking.