N-O-T (Not On Tobacco)
Teen Smoking Cessation Program
Most efforts to keep teenagers from smoking focus on prevention, but what can we do to help teens who already smoke? Teens who smoke run a high risk of developing a lifelong addiction to nicotine. The results: serious health problems and shorter lives.
Not On Tobacco is a state-of-the-art program specifically designed for teenagers who want to stop smoking. It was developed by the American Lung Association in collaboration with researchers at West Virginia University.
N-O-T is recognized by several federal agencies:
N-O-T offers very specific help with tough problems like nicotine withdrawal and how to manage its symptoms to prevent relapses. It also deals with issues that matter to teens, such as how to control weight after quitting and how to cope with friends and family who smoke. The program is gender-sensitive, since females usually have different reasons for smoking, quitting and relapsing than males do.
N-O-T does more than teach teens how to stop smoking successfully – it uses a life management skills approach so young people learn how to reduce stress, make decisions, and communicate more effectively with family and friends.
How It Works
Through N-O-T teens learn to beat their smoking addiction by:
• Identifying the reasons why they smoke
• Pinpointing the social influences that affect smoking behavior
• Combating social pressure from friends and family who smoke
• Understanding the immediate benefits of quitting
• Setting realistic and attainable goals for change
• Developing life management skills that go beyond giving up smoking
The core curriculum consists of ten sessions and four follow-up sessions to reinforce what the group has learned and achieved. Male facilitators lead the boys’ groups and female facilitators lead the girls’ groups, since teens are more likely to share their true feelings about smoking and other issues in a same-sex group.
The program does not “teach at” the students. It draws them in as active participants through small group discussions, hands-on activities, and journal writing and drawing. Recruitment materials and handouts are provided to make the facilitator’s job easier.
Contact: Monica Patten
(505) 265-0732
