In addition, most smokers begin smoking when they are in their teens. About 25 percent of all adolescents who experiment with cigarette-smoking become regular smokers, and among the smokers, about one-third will die from a smoking-related health disease (Global Youth Tobacco Survey Collaborative Group, 2002; Brand, et al, 2006; Kaur and Bains, 2006; Tonstad, 2006; Mathers and Loncar, 2006). In other words, the estimated risk of developing a smoking-related disease among smokers who started the habit early in life is twice higher compared to those who started smoking at a later age. Smoking among teens is associated with additional health and social problems. Smoking affects the physical growth and activities of teenagers. The younger the people start smoking, the more likely they are to become strongly addicted to nicotine. Moreover, teens who smoke are much more likely to use alcohol and drugs, get into fights, and engage in unprotected sex (Center for Disease Control, 2010).
Therefore, reducing the number of smokers is a public health priority. Yet, studies on smoking behavior among teens are rare in most Asian countries. Minja, et al (2004) identified the following significant risk factors for adolescent tobacco use: smoking among friends and siblings, poor academic performance, being older, being male, working, and having parents who were separated. Also, studies on the effects of a school-based intervention program on smoking behavior in Indonesia are rare, with the most recent a study focusing on the implementation of school-based smoking prevention and cessation programs in Aceh Province, Indonesia resulted the tailoring program interventions with participants’ religion background information may provide additional benefits to Islamic school based intervention (Tahlil, et.al,