Not-On-Tobacco Program Helps Curb Smoking Among Appalachian Youths

West Virginia University: Centers for Public Health Research and Training

Topics:
School Health | Tobacco Prevention & Control

Not-On-Tobacco (NOT), a quit smoking program for young people aged 14–19 years, was developed in collaboration with the American Lung Association and the West Virginia Department of Education and tested among 258 students in 10 schools. Evaluation is ongoing, but initial results show the percentage of students who quit smoking after three months is almost 4 times higher among NOT participants than comparison groups. Because of the program’s initial success, the American Lung Association adopted the program and is disseminating it both nationally and internationally. The NOT curriculum provides for gender-specific groups to meet in 10 one-hour sessions (plus 4 booster sessions) during which students receive instruction, encouragement, and support to quit smoking. The youths are also taught life management skills, such as how to eat well, engage in physical activity, manage stress, and develop effective interpersonal skills.

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