Okay, I admit it.

I'm a radical anti-smoker. When Atlanta, GA, passed a

ban on smoking in public places in 2005, I cheered. I'm

one of those guys who will leave a restaurant rather

than take a seat in the smoking section.

A law to ban smoking in public places could save more

lives more quickly than the development of a single new

anti-cancer drug – according to the charitable group

Cancer Research UK.

The organization's Chief Executive argues that the

single most important contribution to tackling cancer

in the next decade is legislation to stub out smoking

in the country's pubs, restaurants and other enclosed

workplaces.

I even believe that smokers should pay higher health

insurance rates — plus more because they create second-

hand smoke which has proven to be just bad as putting a

cigarette in your own lips.

And then, there's the whole moral issue of tobacco

companies advertising to minors to knowingly encourage

addiction to nicotine! But I won't go there. In fact,

I'm done talking about government intervention, tobacco

company morality and health insurance premiums.

All this is important, but there's a vital piece of the

puzzle missing. In this 5-part eCourse, we'll focus on

that missing ingredient — it's the piece we each have

within our total control.

Smoking is a sign of something seriously wrong in the

family. According to the Centers for Disease Control,

factors associated with smoking (and there are many

listed in the Teen Smoking report you downloaded)

include:

• Use and approval of tobacco use by peers or siblings

• Lack of parental support or involvement

• Lower self-image or self-esteem

• Lack of self-efficacy to refuse offers of tobacco

Smoking is a cry for help. Kids just want to be loved

and accepted. Belonging to a group — whether it's chess

club, gangs, church choirs or teen smokers — is just

another way of being accepted.

How we raise our children affects their ability to

choose the kinds of groups they join. If we shower them

with love and acceptance while building a sense of

power and autonomy, we're arming them with the ability

to resist self-destructive options and make self-

affirming choices.

Over the next few days, we'll look at ways to improve

your child's chances to remain smoke free long before

he's offered a cigarette. If he already smokes, we'll

examine ways that YOU can help him quit.