Teaching mum how not to smoke

Thirteen-year-old Jordan Kerr has quit smoking – now he's trying to get his mum to kick the habit "because I want you to come to my 21st and help me through it".

Jordan started smoking at age 11 because he thought it was cool – but now he thinks it's a stupid habit and is helping his mother.

He is using tips he learnt at his high school's unique pupil- run programme – which so far this year has helped more than 50 of his schoolmates try to kick the habit.

Kapiti College pupils caught smoking are given the choice of doing the course – or detention and a phone call telling their parents.

Jordan stubbed out the habit in three weeks, thanks to the school's peer-led Anti-Smoking Planning Action Workshop.

Jordan said he had first-hand experience of beating withdrawal symptoms including cravings, tingling fingers and headaches and he was determined never to smoke again.

"My mind says I do not want to smoke, it is just stupid and not healthy. I see my parents cough and say to Mum, 'Don't have one now, have one later – just keep saying later'.

"There are no reasons to smoke but lots of reason not to."

Tina Kerr, 41, said she was well aware her son wanted her to quit.

"He says he does not want his mum to die. I want to give up but it is an addiction, the time has to be right. I am absolutely rapt he has, he has given me the inspiration now."

Since the start of the year more than 50 college pupils have completed the programme – and 70 per cent of them have quit smoking permanently, says 17-year old Mark Hammond, who leads the initiative.

"Constantly seeing young people smoking and knowing the tobacco industry was targeting young people made me feel sick," he said.

Ten mentors involved in the programme concentrated on promoting the benefits of not smoking – such as saving money and having better skin – rather than the negative health aspects, Mark said.

The organisers' research had found that focusing on the health ailments did not motivate pupils to stop.

"We do not concentrate on heart attacks and lung cancer and stuff that bores students," he said. "Instead, money and acne are the sorts of issues we talk about."

Pupils were encouraged to spend the money they saved on things to reward themselves, such as a laptop, makeup or a DVD.

Principal Tony Kane said about 5 per cent of year 9 pupils smoked, which he believed was similar to other colleges: "But we want to be zero."

The college had a smoke-free policy and pupils caught smoking on school grounds or anywhere in their uniforms were given the choice of joining the programme or facing a more traditional detention and telephone calls to parents. Ninety-five per cent of them opted for the quit programme, Mr Kane said.

- © Fairfax NZ News