School-based prevention programs offer one method of preventing initiation of tobacco use among youth. SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP) independently reviews school-based prevention programs for a) quality of research supporting their effectiveness and b) readiness for community dissemination and implementation. NREPP then rates the programs on a scale of 0 to 4, with 4 being the highest rating given (click on links in the table below for detailed descriptions of the rating scales). Each of the programs in the table includes tobacco prevention as one of its goals. Information about each program came directly from NREPP or the program’s website, which can be reached by clicking on the name of the program in the table.
| Curriculum-Based Support Group | Life Skills Training (LST) | Project ALERT | Project SUCCESS | Project TNT (Towards No Tobacco Use) | |
| Tobacco-specific | no | no | no | no | yes |
| Recommended grade levels | pre-K - 12 | 3 - 10 | 7 - 8 | 7 - 12 | 5 - 9 |
| Session context | facilitated support group | interactive classroom | interactive classroom | interactive classroom + community-based activities | interactive classroom |
| Session length | 1 class period | 30 - 45 minutes | 1 class period | not specified | 40 - 50 minutes |
| Session frequency | 1 - 2 times per week | daily or weekly | 1 - 2 times per week | not specified | daily or every other day |
| Total sessions available | 10 core + 2 optional | 54 (all 3 curricula combined) | 11 core + 3 booster | 8 | 10 core + 2 booster |
|
NREPP tobacco/ substance use outcome research rating |
3.7 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 3.2 | 3.3 |
|
NREPP overall readiness for dissemination rating |
3.7 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4.0 |
Additional Helpful Links:
Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)’s Guidelines for School Health Programs to Prevent Tobacco Use and Addiction
The American Academy of Pediatrics’ Tobacco Prevention Policy Tool showcases various policy strategies that support prevention of youth tobacco initiation and includes recommendations specific to School/Child Care settings.
The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids website highlights the latest global, federal, and state initiatives to reduce tobacco use, state-specific facts on tobacco use. Youth advocacy is also highlighted.
The MedLine Plus: Smoking and Youth website provides the latest news, research, and statistics related to youth smoking.
Click here to view the presentation, "Clean Air for Kids Everywhere" by the MDQuit Resource Center delivered on May 3, 2014. This presentation addresses information on first-, second- and third-hand smoke, and strategies for childcare providers to address these circumstances with adults and children.
