Research

The research projects in the ASCC address 3 primary scientific objectives:

1. to develop and test treatments for adolescent smokers,
2. to link function in neural systems that modulate cognition and emotion in adolescent smokers, and  
3. To clarify the molecular mechanisms by which nicotine affects reward and cognition and assess the extent to which these effects of nicotine lead to long-term dependence.

The green chart on the right (click to enlarge) shows that in 2006, over 8 percent of 8th graders, 14 percent of 10th graders and 21 percent of 12th graders had smoked a cigarette in the past 30 days.

Treatment Manual

For Adolescents - Cognitive-Behavioral Motivational Enhancement Therapy for Smoking Cessation Using A Six-Week Intervention. Download (PDF) - by Steven Shoptaw, Ph.D. Keith Heinzerling, MD Aimee-Noelle Swanson, Ph.D., Edythe D London, Ph.D. Todd Zorick, MD James McCracken, MD Joan Asarnow, Ph.D.