This session will offer insights from the American Lung Association's experience in collaborating with the West Virginia University Prevention Research Center in developing, implementing, and evaluating a program to help teen smokers quit or reduce their smoking habits. Components of the program that have contributed to its effectiveness will be discussed, including: development specifically for teens rather than adaptation of adult cessation programs; voluntary vs. mandatory participation (there will be a discussion of meeting school administrators' needs for mandatory Alternative to Suspension programs for smokers who violate school tobacco-use policies); gender sensitive curricula and separate groups for males and females; incorporation of life-management skills; and focus on training, including a strong marketing and fund-raising component.
Barriers to implementation will also be discussed, such as how to recruit and retain teens in the program, how to tailor the program to culturally diverse populations, how to handle mental health and other sensitive issues that arise, and how to implement the program outside of schools in a variety of community settings. This tobacco-use cessation program will be offered as an example of a productive collaboration between an academic setting and a voluntary health agency to meet a pressing public health need.
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to : 1. describe key components of the N-O-T program 2. recognize key considerations in the design and implementation of a school-based cessation intervention program 2. identify potential barriers to implementing a teen smoking cessation program and possible solutions
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.