Tobacco Use Prevention Program (TUPP) Harvey Ruschmann, CDP, NCACI Cascades Job Corps Center

2 Youth Tobacco Use in the U.S. zEveryday, nearly 3,000 youth under the age of 18 become regular smokers SAMHS, Unpublished Data, 1994 z90% of adults who smoke regularly started before age 19 y Average age of initiation is 14.5 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, 1991 zOne out of three youths in the United States is using tobacco by age 18 Preventing Tobacco Use Among Young People: Surgeon General, 1994

3 Nicotine Addiction zYouth tobacco users become adult tobacco users zYouth tobacco users report: y Inability to stop y Increased tolerance to nicotine y Need to increase use zOnly 5% of tobacco users believe they will be using 5 years later; 75% still use 5-6 years later Monitoring the Future Project,

4 Breaking the Addiction zYouth tobacco users frequently try to quit but are unsuccessful zThe most important reason for wanting to quit is health zNumber one fear: failure to succeed

5 Cascades Job Corps Center Development zOffer Classes (4 times a year) y During convenient hours and days y Set schedule y Qualified Instructor zOffer Incentives y Pizza Party y Phone Card y Resources (candy, gum, water bottles, stress balls) y Medication (nicotine replacement therapy )

6 Lessons Learned from Youth z3 Questions asked: y Why did you start using tobacco? y Why do you continue to use tobacco? y What is your biggest worry about quitting? zMost common responses: y Stress y Boredom y Peer and family pressure

7 E.N.D. Program Content z8 modules (2 hour) zWide variety of teaching techniques y Role Playing y Up to date Videos (MTV) y Pig Lungs, Nicotine Demo, Emphysema Demo zFocus on social skill building y Refusal, Types of communication, Goal Setting zUtilizes group counseling approach

8 Program Objectives zInfluence knowledge, attitude, belief, intention zIncrease self-efficacy and motivation zSocial skills through “hands-on” practice zBehavior change: reduction, cessation, quit attempts

9 Preliminary Data Results ( ) zN=160 student employees zAverage length of tobacco use years z80.6% of parents smoke z25% of friends are not pressuring them to use tobacco z72.1% had tried to quit prior to class

10 Preliminary Data Results (continued) zAverage quit attempts made=2.6 z73.3% were thinking about quitting z73.3% tried to quit during class (< 1 month) z16.3% quit (> 1 month) zSignificant reduction in use zSignificant changes in attitude z75% found class useful or very useful z90.9% would recommend class

11 Health Benefits of Tobacco Cessation “Smoking cessation represents the single most important step smokers can take to enhance the length and quality of their lives.” Antonio C. Novello, MD, MPH, Surgeon General, Public Health Service

12 From a Youth’s Point of View… “Taking a smoking cessation class may sound like a waste of time…In fact when I enrolled in the class it was for nothing else but a credit. At no point before I attended the class did I ever think that it would be beneficial to my smoking habit…time went by and I was proven wrong.” Student, age 16

13 From a Youth’s Point of View… “This class isn’t like any other class that you go into and act like you are listening to the teacher…do all your homework and get your grade, then it’s off to another class and don’t even remember a thing you’ve learned. All this information will really stick with me my whole life.” Student, age 18

14 From a Youth’s Point of View… “I would recommend this class for anyone with the desire to stop smoking and little faith that they can do it.” Student, age 19 “I would have to say that this was one of the best classes I have ever taken, as far as my health is concerned.” Student, age 17