Mom and dad's tobacco use influences teens' smoking

There are many other factors that influence the likelihood of becoming a smoker, the researcher noted, from the media to genetic susceptibility to addiction. Nevertheless, he and his colleagues write, "a deeper understanding of the intergenerational transmission of cigarette smoking will provide additional insight into avenues of prevention." And, they add, smoking cessation efforts for families and parents "will not only reduce the parent's smoking but likely reduce smoking uptake in subsequent generations."

SOURCE: Pediatrics, February 2009.