Few young smokers use smoking-cessation devices and drugs when they try to quit, choosing instead to try to kick their addiction cold-turkey, Reuters reported Dec. 27.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a report saying that smokers ages 16-24 also had higher failure rates than older smokers who try to quit.

Health officials recommend six approaches to smoking cessation: talking to a health professional, using nicotine-replacement products, using bupropion, talking to a counselor, attending a program or class, and/or calling a helpline. But only talking to a counselor was utilized by 20 percent or more of young smokers.

On the other hand, 88.3 percent of young smokers tried cutting back the number of cigarettes they smoke daily, 56 percent tried not to buy cigarettes, 51 percent increased exercise, 47.5 percent tried quitting with a friend, 44.5 percent told others that they had quit, and 36.1 percent switched to light cigarettes. None of these steps are recommended as cessation strategies by the U.S. Public Health Service.

Young men were more likely to exercise or switch to other tobacco products to try to quit smoking; young women were more apt to seek counseling.

The findings were reported in the Dec. 22, 2006 issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.