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Nicotine patches for children approved

NICE, the official advisory body in England says that children as young as 12 should receive nicotine patches if they have a serious smoking problem.

The recommendation comes in a set of guidelines by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) which are intended to advise health authorities on helping people give up smoking.

According to NICE, adults should be offered nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) such as patches and gum, and drugs like varenicline and buproprion, as well as counselling and group therapy.

Those under 18 should not be offered drugs, nor should pregnant women, it says. But those aged between 12 and 17 should be provided with information, advice and support, and NRT "when there is clear evidence of nicotine dependence".

The guidelines say that Primary Care Trusts and Strategic Health Authorities should treat at least 5% of their population who smoke each year, and to aim for a success rate of 35% having given up after four weeks.

The NHS Stop Smoking Services should also make a beeline for ethnic minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities in the local population.

Tobacco use, the body noted, was "the primary reason for the gap in healthy life expectancy between rich and poor".

Professor Peter Littlejohns, clinical and public health director of NICE said, "Smoking is still the main cause of preventable morbidity and premature death in England."

He added, "Most smokers want to quit and in this guidance we aim to ensure that the right services are put in place to help them to stop."

Anti-smoking group ASH welcomed the new policy, noting that "smoking cessation is one of the most cost-effective forms of health intervention".

Deborah Arnott, director, said, "The guidance is also important in recognising that many young people need help in stopping smoking."

"Addiction can occur very quickly after starting to smoke and young people deserve the same level of support in quitting as older smokers."

Source: BBC News, 27th February 2008
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