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Parents: Quit smoking and your children are less likely to smoke

Research shows if both parents of a child never smoked, then a child's odds of daily smoking are reduced by more than 70 percent compared to when both parents continue to smoke. If both parents were smokers but quit, those same odds are reduced by nearly 40 percent and additional research shows that mothers who quit are less likely to have children who start smoking.

As global leaders in tobacco control commemorate World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) on May 31st, the rallying cry is to prevent young people from starting to smoke. While the 2008 theme, "Tobacco-Free Youth" calls for additional limitations on the marketing practices of cigarette marketers and other comprehensive changes, a major determining factor of children's tobacco use is the smoking status of their parents.

Howard Marsh, M.D., medical director, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare said, "By quitting smoking, parents can play a major role in helping to end the vicious cycle of passing addiction from generation to generation. Parents who want to take this important step on May 31st should get help from proven smoking cessation treatments such as therapeutic nicotine to increase their chances of staying off cigarettes for good."

Smoking remains one of the leading causes of preventable death and disease and one of the most powerful and important addictions to break. That said, many smokers can't do it alone. Evidence-based treatments such as nicotine replacement therapy combined with counselling offers a significantly better chance of quitting versus cold turkey.

Source: Fox Business, 28th May 2008
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