[Modifying smoking habits at school--experiences in a town of the GDR (author's transl)].

The number of juvenile smokers in the age-group of 12-16 years is increasing. Sequels of nicotine abuse--as bronchial carcinoma, chronic bronchitis and cardiovascular diseases-are more frequent in persons who begin smoking in the younger age-group. It is our obligation to influence youth in such a way that young people do not begin to smoke at all, or as less as possible. For that reason in 1974 the Chest Clinic of Schwedt began with taking intensive influence to school children for stopping smoking or not beginning smoking. Smoking habits in the youth cannot be changed only by engagement and the possibilities of the physicians. One antismoking campaign confined in time will not result in lasting success. A deep change in the smoking habits of the youth can be achieved only by a continuous, systematic and substantial cooperation between the medical staff, the educational system and the parents. We are reporting about our approach and the experiences collected in this aimed work.