Motivation and Skills for Detained Teen Smokers

Research efforts to affect adolescent smoking cessation have not focused on detained teens. This is an opportune time to enhance interest in smoking cessation and subsequent quit rates. In addition, little is known about mechanisms of smoking cessation in adolescents, generally. The long-term objective of this research is to increase our understanding of effective smoking interventions for understudied adolescents at high risk for continued smoking into adulthood.

This Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT) uses a 2 x 2 between groups factorial design to investigate Motivational Interviewing (MI) versus Relaxation Therapy (RT), and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) versus Self-Help Programming (SHP). Treatments are provided during brief stay in detention and adolescents are followed after release. The investigators seek to increase quit rates post-release, and the investigators will examine the moderating and mediating effects of motivation, anger, and self-efficacy. The investigators will study main effects for treatment as well as whether the combination of MI/CBT is more effective than other treatments in enhancing quit rates.

Methodology-Adolescents ages 13-19, who have been detained at the Rhode Island Training School (RITS; ethnic breakdown: 32% Caucasian, 35% African American, 22% Latino, 5% Asian American, and 6% of other racial backgrounds),and approximately 10% of its residents are female. Adolescents will be eligible if: 1) they smoke an average of 1 cigarette or cigarillo per day 2) they have an estimated length of 4-7 weeks stay in detention.

All teens who meet the inclusion criteria will be initially introduced to the study by Rhode Island Training School (RITS) authorized personnel who will briefly explain the study. Youth will be approached in person at the facility and if interested in the study, project staff describes the purposes, procedures, and answers all questions the youth may have.It is also emphasized that to not participate will not result in any repercussions in terms of their detention to the facility.

In order to participate in the study, eligible teens will be required to read (or have read) and sign an informed consent/assent form. Teens not meeting screening criteria or who decline participation in the study will be thanked for their time. Teens who meet the inclusion criteria, but decline participation will be asked to fill out a brief, anonymous questionnaire containing demographic information and items concerning previous incarcerations. If they agree to do so, they will be asked to read and sign an informed consent/assent form. The purpose of this brief questionnaire is to allow us to determine if the sample of teens that agreed to participate is significantly different from those who declined.