Developing School-Based Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Programs

A recent report from the United States Surgeon General shows that some school-based tobacco use prevention programmes have proved successful in discouraging first use of tobacco among children. Dissemination of these programmes, however, has been minimal. Taking a health researcher′s perspective, the authors of this volume discuss the history, status and needs of school-based tobacco use prevention//cessation research. Issues addressed include how to implement such programmes and the major theoretical and methodological issues involved. Details of the Project Toward No Tobacco Use (TNT) are also covered.

Even though some school-based tobacco use prevention programs have proven successful, nearly all first use of tobacco occurs before high school graduation. In this volume the authors offer a health researcher′s perspective on the history, status, and requirements of school-based tobacco use prevention and cessation research. They outline how to develop a research program and give practical guidelines on how to implement it. Following a brief overview of school-based prevention and cessation programs, they describe the development and implementation of Project Towards No Tobacco Use (TNT), and address major theoretical and methodological issues. The specific issues they address include developing and selecting good programs; developing the curriculum; examining the social influences of etiology; and selecting, assigning, and teaching subjects. Researchers and practitioners in public health, especially those involved in adolescent tobacco programs and health promotion will find this volume particularly interesting.