The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #58921

Laurie J. Mazzei, MPH¹, Kay M. Adkins, MPH², Michele Jacknik, MSEd², Veronica Acosta-DePrez, PhD, CHES³, and Mohammed Forouzesh, MPH, PhD⁴. (1) Tobacco Use Reduction Now, (TURN ) Program, San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, 505 N. Arrowhead Ave #500, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0048, (909) 388-5777, lmazzei@dph.sbcounty.gov, (2) Tobacco Use Reduction Now (TURN) Program, San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, 505 N. Arrowhead Ave., Suite 500, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0048, (3) Health Science, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90840, (4) California State University at Long Beach, Health Sciences Department, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90840-0006

Since 1998, smoking prevalence among young adults in California has increased and continues to rise. Young adults on college campuses are heavily targeted by the tobacco industry. This program worked to develop a paradigm in which smoking cessation services could be successfully institutionalized on college and vocational school campuses. Numerous meetings, brainstorming sessions, key informant interviews, and a literature review were instrumental in developing a format that integrated a Behavior Change Model-based cessation program into the existing alcohol/drug counselor curriculum. The program was field tested from October 2002 through December 2002 and consisted of 30 participants. The program consisted of six, 1.5-hour sessions held once per week. The smoking cessation program was conducted in class alongside the counselor trainees. The many benefits to counselor trainees will be discussed. 100% of the field test participants felt the program was a success. Five students from the counselor trainee program quit smoking. Fifty percent of non-smoking students were able to use this model to change other behavioral risk factors in their lives. Cessation programs can be successfully integrated into ongoing programs as part of a curriculum to increase sustainability. Data regarding follow up results will be presented. Integrating cessation curriculum with alcohol/drug counselor, or other health programs facilitates, 1) nicotine being more readily recognized as a drug; 2) the decrease of tobacco use among drug treatment participants and health professionals; and 3) the increase in the number health care professionals who intervene with tobacco users in the future.

Learning Objectives:

• Define three barriers to effective implementation of cessation services on college and vocational school campuses.
• Identify reasons to integrate cessation curriculum into existing programs on college and vocational school campuses.
• Develop a plan to institutionalize integrated cessation services on college and vocational school campuses.

Keywords: Smoking Cessation, College Students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.