Nicotine Patch for minor in IL

Specialties Psychiatric

Published

I'm caring for a ward of the state who complained about tobacco cravings. MD ordered a nicotine patch. If IL law dictates that a 14 yr. old cannot buy tobacco products and actively prosecutes those who sell tobacco to minors. Can we still provide a patch?

Thanks in advance for all replies.

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I don't see why you can't provide it with a valid prescription.

The patch is not a tobacco product.

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I am in a different state, but there are similar laws about selling/providing tobacco products to minors, and we give nicotine patches to nearly all our adolescents (I work in inpt. child psych). No one's ever raised a question about it. It's not tobacco, it's a medication.

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I'm sure we are going to give it. Nonetheless since the patient is a ward of the state I have to wait for Child Serivces to approve it since it's a prescribed med. As a parent of 2 minors someone giving my child a nicotine patch would make me question the common sense of the person providing it and I would refuse it if giving the option.

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.
i'm sure we are going to give it. nonetheless since the patient is a ward of the state i have to wait for child serivces to approve it since it's a prescribed med. as a parent of 2 minors someone giving my child a nicotine patch would make me question the common sense of the person providing it and i would refuse it if giving the option.

the teens i've worked with in psych who used the patch, had more success quitting than the kids who didn't. i come from a family with many smokers and former smokers and i have seen up close, the negative effects of tobacco use, and would try to influence, coerce, beg, any teen or young adult i could to quit smoking -- or, better yet, not to smoke in the first place. if i had a child that age, i would do everything possible within my power to have a nonsmoking child, but if s/he used a tobacco product anyway, i would certainly have no objections to the child using the nicotine patch. nicotine is a drug.

but, maybe i'm not the right person to ask. smoking (notice that i did not say i was antismoker!) is a disgusting, revolting, gross, icky habit and if i'm around smoke, or in a smoker's house, i get sick and wheezy. if he uses the patch and is able to quit, he'll be less of an outcast as he matures. that's a big bonus.

kathy

shar pei mom:paw::paw:

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

If the child is tobacco-craving, it can be sooo uncomfortable. Tobacco is hugely difficult to quit using. So, if he is not given the patch, he's going to suffer more than he would with it, and he might even do what he has to do to get cigarettes. Which is worse?

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I'm sure we are going to give it. Nonetheless since the patient is a ward of the state I have to wait for Child Serivces to approve it since it's a prescribed med. As a parent of 2 minors someone giving my child a nicotine patch would make me question the common sense of the person providing it and I would refuse it if giving the option.

we get consent from the parent or guardian to give it, same as any other medication, but we offer patches to kids who come in with a smoking habit/history. And it's not about quitting smoking, it's merely nicotine replacement therapy for while they're in the hospital and not permitted to smoke, same as we do for the adults on the adult units, to prevent the acute withdrawal syndrome.

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nicotine isn't against the law it's the tobacco...yeah the patch is better than the cigs for a 14 year old..i smoke and wished id quit...

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I appreciate the input. Interesting to see everyone's perspective on the topic.

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