RT Journal
A1 Adelman WP
T1 Nicotine replacement therapy for teenagers: About time or a waste of time?
JF Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
JO Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
YR 2004
FD March 1
VO 158
IS 3
SP 205
OP 206
DO 10.1001/archpedi.158.3.205
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.158.3.205
AB 
One quarter of teenagers who try smoking ultimately will meet diagnostic criteria for nicotine dependence,1 and several studies have found evidence of nicotine dependence among adolescent smokers.2 Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a safe and effective mainstay of adult smoking cessation, and current clinical practice guidelines for treating tobacco use and dependence suggest that physicians consider the use of NRT with adolescents with obvious nicotine dependence who want to quit smoking.3 As Johnson et al4 describe, NRT products are easily accessible by minors without proof of age, and some authors advocate unfettered access to NRT beginning as young as 12 years of age.5 Use of NRT in adolescents is a well-reasoned, straightforward therapeutic option with only one problem: there is no evidence to date that NRT will play a major role in tobacco use cessation for teenagers.