Prevention and control of smoking behaviors among adolescents in Macau / 中国学校卫生

ABSTRACT

Abstract@#The smoking prevalence among population in Macau has been steadily declined in the past 10 years and Macau boasts one of the lower smoking prevalences in the world. However, the prevalence of adolescent smoking is relatively high. This article described the MPOWER anti smoking package for adolescents in Macau. It also offered suggestions for future improvements in controlling smoking of the young people, including monitoring illicit tobacco trade and smuggling, raising the age limit to buy tobacco products, innovating the methods of health education on harms of tobacco smoke, and enhancing scrutiny on smoking behavior around school campuses. The smoking prevalence among adolescents can be reduced with comprehensive and inclusive anti smoking programs which are tailored to behavioral and psychological characteristics of young people, in line with the local social economic contexts, and take on advantages of scientific and technological developments.