Prevention and Education

Abstract

Over the past decade, those of us involved in reducing substance abuse (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, opiates), have focused our efforts on creating a drug-free generation. The idea, of course, is that once we can break the cycle of use, the following generations will also follow the example of their now drug-free parents. This is an even more crucial goal for those involved in trying to prevent cigarette smoking. As is made clear in the preceding chapters, nicotine addiction begins when users are adolescents and threatens their health over decades. In order to break this cycle, physicians and other health care professionals will have to battle constantly against a clever and well-financed enemy.