Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 October 2014
This paper reviews individual and community approaches to smoking prevention. It summarises some behavioural components of individual and group methods of smoking prevention and cessation and points to some of the shortcomings of these approaches. The advantages of community-based interventions for smoking are reviewed and the limitations of past community studies are noted. It is proposed that a community approach to smoking prevention holds considerable promise. Multiple interventions which address smoking as a community issue and the provision of community-based structures and support for smoking cessation are needed to combat this major public health problem.