A Total Health Approach to Helping Teens Stop Smoking
N-O-T Reduces Teen Smoking
N-O-T Fact Sheet
Adolescent Smoking Statistics
Each day, nearly 4,800 adolsecents (aged 11-17) smoke their first cigarette; of these, nearly 2,000 will become regular smokers. That is almost two million annually. Approximately one-third of these young smokers will eventually die of smoking-related illnesses. Of adolescents who have smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime, most of them report that they would like to quit but are not able to do so. The American Lung Association's Not On Tobacco (N-O-T) offers schools and community groups a unique, proven program for helping these teens quit.
- The American Lung Association, in collaboration with West Virginia University, developed N-O-T. The program was evaluated during two pilot phases, which led to revisions tailored to suit the needs of schools and teens. Evaluations are continuing around the country.
- N-O-T was designed specifically for teens, using a gender-sensitive, 10-session curriculum that includes booster sessions. Teachers, school nurses, counselors and other staff and volunteers trained by the American Lung Association facilitate the sessions in the schools and other community settings.
- N-O-T is designed as a voluntary, non-punitive program for teens. An Alternative-to-Suspension program is also included to address student violation of a school tobacco policy.
- Typically, groups are divided by gender and are led by a same-gender facilitator. This allows teens to discuss issues that relate specifically to males or females and to express their own feelings and experiences in an accepting environment.
- N-O-T incorporates life management skills to help teens deal with stress, decision-making and peer and family relationships. It also addresses healthy lifestyle behaviors such as alcohol or illicit drug use as well as related health issues such as exercise and nutrition.
- Preliminary six-month post-program evaluation shows a 22.4 percent quit rate among teens. Of those who continued to smoke, 65.4 percent reduced the number of cigarettes smoked during weekdays, and 75 percent reduced the number of cigarettes they smoked on weekends. These results were reported directly by the teens and were chemically validated.
- For schools, this curriculum provides a high quality program that fills an urgent need to help teens stop smoking. N-O-T also fills a health education curriculum niche, improves the quality of life in schools, and protects the health of non-smoking students and staff. During the 1998-1999 school years, the American Lung Association provided the N-O-T program through 180 facilitators in 67 schools, reaching over 1,200 students.
- N-O-T meets the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Guidelines for School Health Program to Prevent Tobacco Use & Addiction.
For more information about N-O-T and other American Lung Association tobacco control programs, call the American Lung Association at 1-800-LUNG-USA.
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