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Tuesday April 03 06:56 PM EDT

Healthcast: Smoking Study Helps Teens Stop

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The study is free for kids ages 13 to 19 who want to quit smoking, have good health and don't mind receiving a small stipend for participating.

The medication being tested is an antidepressant called Zyban. It doubles the quitting rate of adult smokers. In about six months, researchers will know if it can do the same for teenagers.

About 45 percent of high school seniors smoke. Thirty percent of those are girls.

Eight kids have signed up for the six-month study. Doctors want 64 participants. Half will take the medication, half will receive a fake pill. They will also receive free counseling under guidelines that include the following:

• Setting a quit date.
• Telling family and friends.
• Getting support.
• Anticipating challenges.
• Removing tobacco products from their environment.

The medication does not contain nicotine. It is thought to help curb the cravings and withdrawal symptoms that teenagers experience when they quit smoking.

The participants will continue to take the medicine for a total of seven weeks. It takes about two weeks for cigarette nicotine to get out of their system.