In its efforts to improve the health status of all people, the United States is faced with the challenge of halting increasing tobacco use rates of young people under the age of 18. Approximately 80% of tobacco users initiate before this age as one million teenagers take up smoking cigarettes annually and nearly one in five high school graduates are daily smokers. Smoking cigarettes at an early age predisposes teenagers to morbidity and mortality later in life and tobacco use is widely recognized as a "gateway" drug which precedes the use of other drugs. The N.O.T. (Not on Tobacco) school based smoking cessation program, developed by the American Lung Association, utilizes principles shown through research to increase effectiveness of tobacco cessation with adolescents. Striving to increase healthy lifestyle behaviors and improve life management skills through a standardized currciulum, it uses self reporting and cotinine testing as measures of evaluation. Sheridan Health Services, a school based health center in Denver, Colorado is implementing the N.O.T. program through funding from state tobacco settlement money. Serving a high school population in which 40% of students are self reported smokers, this demonstration project will measure the effectiveness of a smoking cessation program in a high school environment. The results of this program will be useful in planning and implementing effective smoking cessation programs targeting high school students.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to: 1) Identify the role of a school based health center in smoking cessation for adolescents in a school setting. 2) Discuss the process of implementing a research based smoking cessation program in a high school setting. 3) Discuss methods of evaluation used to determine effectiveness of a school based smoking cessation program.
Keywords: Adolescents, Tobacco Control
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: American Lung Association of Colorado _ N.O.T. Not on Tobacco Program for smoking cessation.
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.