YEAR 10 student has been given permission to take cigarette breaks while at school because her doctor says she is clinically addicted to nicotine.
Tara Lewis, 16, who smokes as much as a packet a day, is allowed to smoke between classes to relieve the "stress" of her Year 10 studies.
Stromlo High School has granted the amazing concession to the Canberra teenager despite the ACT Government boasting of its plans to tighten laws to stop underage smoking.
It is also illegal to supply cigarettes to anybody under the age of 18.
Yet the Government has for years allowed smoking at five selected year 11 and 12 colleges in the Territory and will only introduce a total ban from January 1, 2008.
The school's decision also mocks the $25 million the Federal Government is investing over the next four years in a national campaign to stop young people aged between 12 and 24 from smoking.
The high school student told The Sunday Telegraph it was a "massive" relief to be able to smoke at school as it helped to calm her down.
"As soon as I've got a cigarette in my hand, I'm calmer," she said.
Stromlo High School gave her permission for "smoko" breaks following advice from Tara's mother, Patrece, and her family doctor.
"We were worried that she wasn't going to finish year 10 if she couldn't smoke," Ms Lewis, 35, said.
The ACT Department of Education denied it gave Tara permission "to go out for a smoke" in school grounds.
It said she was allowed to leave the school during lunch breaks due to "exceptional circumstances".
"We were trying to work out the best way to get her through year 10," the spokesman said.
The ACT's Opposition Leader Bill Stefaniak slammed the decision.
"She's at an age where she's not legally allowed to smoke, and I'm amazed anyone suggests there is any medical reason for her to smoke," he said.
Anti-smoking campaigner Anne Jones, of Action on Smoking and Health, said the school was reckless in facilitating Tara's addiction.
'It's unconscionable for a school to be setting up a convenient place for students to smoke.
"They have obviously been conned by her."
Ms Jones said the school should be supplying Tara with nicotine patches or gum.
Tara's mother, also a smoker, said the situation reached breaking point last month when her daughter was placed on detention, and prevented from leaving the school grounds.
"She was really stressed. She just calms down if she has got a cigarette; otherwise she storms in the door, cranky and angry."
Ms Lewis said she made the request during a meeting with a teacher and the vice-principal.
"I told them her major problem is when she is stressed, if she could just have a cigarette to calm her down and stop her getting angry.
"I said: 'I've talked to the doctor about it'.
"Both teachers said: 'Okay, I don't see why not'."
Under the special rule, Tara said she can smoke in school grounds, near the staff carpark, but must remain away from other students.
Tara's mother said she had started rewarding Tara with just six cigarettes a day if she did chores and behaved at school.
"It's not like I want my kid to smoke. I've done everything to get her to stop it, so if I can control it and say 'when you can have a cigarette, you do chores', that might help.
"I don't want her smoking. It's the last thing you want to let your kid do."
Parents were outraged last week that the school was breaking strict rules and the law.
"I think it's ridiculous," said one parent. "The school has a strong anti-smoking policy, yet does this."
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