A high school senior complains of a persistent cough and admits to smoking 10 to 15 cigarettes daily for the past year. He believes he is hopelessly addicted to tobacco, as he was unable to quit last week. Which intervention should the nurse implement?

The nurse should recognize the high school senior's tobacco addiction and offer supportive and practical interventions to aid in smoking cessation. Here's a step-by-step approach:

1. Provide Encouragement: Validate the student's feelings and concerns about addiction. Reassure them that while quitting smoking is difficult, many resources and strategies can help.

2. Assess Readiness to Quit: Determine if the senior is ready to quit immediately or if they need more information or motivational support to take that step.

3. Develop a Quit Plan: Help the student create a personalized quit plan. This can include setting a quit date, identifying triggers for smoking, and preparing strategies to manage these triggers.

4. Provide Resources: Inform the student of support groups, counseling services, hotlines, or mobile apps designed for tobacco cessation. Provide educational materials about the benefits of quitting and the risks of continued smoking.

5. Discuss Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT): Since the senior has a strong addiction, discuss options like nicotine gum, patches, lozenges, or prescription medications that can help manage withdrawal symptoms.

6. Consider Counseling or Therapy: Recommend counseling or cognitive behavioral therapy to help modify the student's behavior and deal with the psychological aspect of addiction.

7. Follow-Up: Schedule follow-up appointments for continuous support, to monitor progress, and to make adjustments to the quit plan as needed.

8. Involve Parents and Family: With the student's consent, involve their family as a support system to provide an encouraging environment for quitting.

9. Educate on the Health Benefits: Discuss how quitting now, especially at a young age, can drastically reduce health risks associated with smoking.