International Approaches to Tobacco Use Cessation Programs and Policy in Adolescents and Young Adults: Denmark

Abstract

Smoking habits early in life are known to have important implications for lifetime smoking behaviors and efforts that discourage smoking among young people are essential for national tobacco control. In Denmark, various approaches have been taken to prevent or stop smoking in youth. This paper provides an overview of approaches to tobacco control policies and smoking cessation programs targeting adolescents and young adults in Denmark and presents current evidence of their effectiveness. Extensive research documents the effect of tobacco control policies on youth smoking behavior, especially that of increasing prices on tobacco. Further, it has been suggested that strategies addressing the social aspect of smoking should be emphasized. This paper highlights that Denmark has an untapped potential within national tobacco control. Denmark should prioritize a comprehensive approach including enactment of tobacco control policies and implementation of interventions shown to be effective to prevent smoking initiation and encourage quitting among Danish youth.