Abstract

VITORIA, Paulo D.; RAPOSO, Carlota S.  and  PEIXOTO, Filipa A.. Smoking prevention in schools . Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2000, vol.1, n.1, pp.45-51. ISSN 1645-0086.

Tobacco smoking is the most important preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. About 90% of smokers smoke everyday and could be considered addicts. In these cases, smoking cessation is very difficult - about 70% of smokers admit they would like to quit, but only a few succeed. In the European Union the onset of smoking occurs, in the majority of smokers, before the age of 14 years. More than 50% of the adolescents that try to smoke become addicted. For all of these reasons the control of tobacco smoking should be based on prevention. Programs should be targeted at adolescents, trying to avoid or delay the onset of smoking and possible future addiction. School is an important base to develop smoking prevention programs aimed at adolescents. But is the school interested in developing smoking prevention programs? We will present the results of a questionnaire applied in 13 schools (N=1811) aimed at evaluating the schools interest in developing smoking prevention programs. The results of this questionnaire show strong levels of support from the schools for the introduction of smoking prevention programs.

Keywords : Tobacco; Prevention; Smoking; School.

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