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Sharon Ketchum, MC, Department of Public Health, Tobacco Use Prevention Program, Maricopa County, 3838 N. Central Avenue, Suite 1600, Phoenix, AZ 85012, 6023728438, sharonketchum@mail.maricopa.gov and Sue Sisley, MD, Desert Stages Theatre, Ensuring Tomorrow Productions, 12622 N 81st Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85260.
Youth development and education research reveals that youth learn best when actively involved and particularly when they teach others. So it’s no surprise that the teen performers in Tobacco: The Musical are deeply committed to never smoking or chewing tobacco. As they sing at one point, “You’re just a pawn in their game. No one says you have to join.” With training through the Desert Stages Theatre, they share that conviction in such a powerful, fun and professional way that the third through sixth graders viewing a performance want ‘to be more like them’. When the cast offers to answer questions after the performance, hands shoot up all around the room. And with information provided by the Maricopa County Tobacco Use Prevention Program, the cast responds to questions ranging from “Does it matter if I smoke for a little while?” to “Why do tobacco companies sell a product that hurts us?” To ensure long-term impact, performances are scheduled as part of an ongoing tobacco use prevention program in the school. Research based curricula and school-wide health and anti-tobacco activities reaffirm the messages and teach the skills needed to act on the knowledge gained. This poster will share the steps to setting up a professional level teen musical theater program dealing with social issues, and how to coordinate efforts with comprehensive prevention programs to ensure long-term impact. A short video of the performance, and copies of promotional materials and media coverage will be available to poster session participants. Funded by ADHS.
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to
Keywords: Children and Adolescents, Prevention
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.