My 18-year-old son quit smoking for a few weeks, but now he says he wants to go back to it. He says he's been under a lot of stress, having mood swings, and is a lot more fidgety. How can I convince him to change his mind? – Audrey It's tough to quit smoking. Nicotine is addicting — and your son may be showing signs of withdrawal. He might want to get some nicotine gum or the nicotine patch so that he isn't having all those unpleasant symptoms. However, if he has quit for a few weeks, the symptoms should be lessening. It's great that he has been interested in quitting — that is the most important step in the process. Keep encouraging him — but, ultimately, the decision to quit is his. Back to Articles Related Articles What Kids Say About: Tobacco Everyone knows tobacco is unhealthy, but what do kids think about it? We asked 1,433 kids to give us their opinions. Read More Helping a Parent Who Smokes You love your mom and dad, but what if they smoke? Find out how you can help them be healthier. Read More Kids and Smoking The health risks of smoking are well known, many young people still do it. Here's how to help your kids avoid smoking, vaping, or using chewing tobacco - or quit, if they've already started. Read More Depression Depression is the most common mental health disorder in the U.S. If you think your child is depressed, you'll want to learn more about what depression is, what causes it, and what you can do to help. Read More Smoking Stinks! Everyone says smoking is bad for you. Why? Find out in this article for kids. Read More Smoking Smoking is on the decline, but some people are still lighting up. Why? The answer is addiction. Find out more in this article for teens. Read More Secondhand Smoke Experts now know that breathing in someone else's secondhand smoke is bad for you. Find out what you can do about it. Read More Smoking and Asthma Find out why smoking is a bad idea - especially for people with asthma. Read More Nicotine: What Parents Need to Know Nicotine is a highly addictive stimulant. Those who start smoking before age 21 have the hardest time breaking the habit. Read More Motivation and the Power of Not Giving Up Everyone struggles with staying motivated and reaching their goals. Just look at how many people diet, lose weight, and then gain it back again. But it's still possible to stay motivated if you take the right approach. Read More How Can I Quit Smoking? Nearly 1 in 5 deaths in the United States is related to tobacco. Are you ready to kick the habit? Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.