Project Towards No Tobacco Use

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

Project Towards No Tobacco Use (Project TNT) is a comprehensive, classroom-based curriculum designed to prevent or reduce tobacco use in 5th through 9th grade youth. It is devised to counteract several different causes of tobacco use simultaneously, because the behavior is determined by multiple causes. Project TNT works well for a wide variety of youths who may have different risk factors influencing their tobacco use. It teaches awareness of misleading social information, develops skills that counteract social pressure to use tobacco, and provides information about the physical consequences of tobacco use, such as addiction.

Goal / Mission

The goal of this program is to prevent or reduce tobacco use among children and adolescents.

Impact

One study found that Project the project reduced initiation of cigarette smoking in the two years following the program by 26% when compared to a control group. Students showed increased knowledge of tobacco addiction, related diseases, and media influences and had improved communication, refusal, and coping skills.

Results / Accomplishments

In a randomized controlled trial including 48 schools, Project Towards No Tobacco Use reduced initiation of cigarette smoking in the two years following the program by 26% when compared to a control group. Students who received programming were 30% less likely to initiate smokeless tobacco use when compared to the control group. Weekly or more frequent cigarette smoking was reduced by 60% among intervention students, and weekly or more frequent smokeless tobacco use was eliminated. Students showed increased knowledge of tobacco addiction, related diseases, and media influences. Students in the project had improved communication, refusal, and coping skills.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
University of Southern California, Institute for Prevention Research
Primary Contact
Dr. Steve Sussman
USC Institute for Prevention Research
Soto Street Building, 3rd Floor
2001 N. Soto Street
Los Angeles, CA 90032
(800)400-8461
ssussma@usc.edu
http://tnt.usc.edu/index.php
Topics
Health / Alcohol & Drug Use
Health / Adolescent Health
Organization(s)
University of Southern California, Institute for Prevention Research
Source
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's Model Programs Guide (MPG)
Date of publication
1995
Date of implementation
1992
For more details
http://tnt.usc.edu/index.php
http://www.crimesolutions.gov/ProgramDetails.aspx?...
Target Audience
Children, Teens

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Related Content for: Project Towards No Tobacco Use

An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.