Teen Smoking Reduced Due to "Not On Tobacco' (N-O-T)

Teen Smoking Reduced Due To "Not On Tobacco" (N-O-T)
Program From the American Lung Association®

Teens Claiming Victory Over a Growing Teenage Addiction

February 2000

N-O-T Backgrounder
N-O-T Fact Sheet
Adolescent Smoking Statistics

New York, NY - Teens across the country are saying goodbye to smelly clothes, yellow teeth and a weekly allowance going down the drain. They are learning to take control of their lives and make the choice to quit smoking with the help of the American Lung Association's teen smoking cessation program Not On Tobacco (N-O-T). After three years of development, pilot testing, revision and evaluation, N-O-T has rolled out nationwide. Preliminary, six-month post-program evaluation showed that more than 22 percent of teens participating in N-O-T stopped smoking, and 64.5 percent greatly reduced the number of cigarettes they smoke.

Of adolescents who smoke regularly, most of them report that they want to quit, but are unable to do so. Designed for high schools and community-based organizations, N-O-T is the first program that has separate boys' and girls' groups so teens can relax and talk about issues that are most important to them. It is a voluntary, 10-session, gender-sensitive program that uses a total health approach to help addicted teenage smokers who want to quit, or just cut back. N-O-T is based on preliminary research and evaluation and was developed specifically for teenagers, not adapted from adult programs. Teachers, school nurses, counselors and other staff and community volunteers are identified through a set of selection criteria and trained by the American Lung Association to facilitate the sessions in schools and other community settings.

Data show that approximately 90 percent of smokers begin smoking before the age of 21 and that among 12th graders in 1998, 22.4 percent smoked cigarettes daily.

With almost 4,800 adolescents smoking their first cigarette each day, the American Lung Association recognized the need to provide a program specifically designed for teens to help them quit smoking. Since the development of the program, in collaboration with researchers from West Virginia University, N-O-T has been proven effective - in both helping teens to quit smoking and empowering teens to take control over various aspects of their lives.

In a Florida study evaluation of 67 schools participating in N-O-T during the 1998-1999 school years, preliminary results revealed that N-O-T addressed not only the health problems and discipline problems faced in schools, but also helped to improve the lives and attitudes of its participants by tackling issues of self-esteem, stress management and positive outlooks on daily life. Six months after the conclusion of the program, preliminary evaluation found that the overall quit rate among teens that took part in N-O-T was 22.4 percent. Of those who did not quit, 65.4 percent of students reduced their smoking by over 50 percent on weekdays and 75 percent reduced their smoking by 60 percent on weekends. These preliminary findings prove that teens can quit and reduce cigarette use as a result of their participation in N-O-T. The evaluation was funded by the Florida Office of Tobacco Control and coordinated by the American Lung Association of Florida.

"We are thrilled with the preliminary results from the N-O-T programs and are excited about its availability to schools and community programs nationwide. N-O-T addresses the need to help teens stop smoking and provides a successful, high quality program for which there is a great need," said Ernest P. Franck, president of the American Lung Association. "The teens who participate in N-O-T benefit from its teachings not only because it incorporates a life skills management approach that addresses issues such as stress and decision-making, but it also teaches health behaviors such as nutrition and exercise for teens that are making important changes in their lives."

Contrary to the belief that teens are unwilling to stop smoking, N-O-T is turning the tables and showing America that teenagers really do want to quit; they just need a step in the right direction.

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 or visit the association on the Web at http://www.lungusa.org.

The American Lung Association® has been fighting lung disease for nearly 100 years. With the generous support of the public and the help of volunteers, we have seen many advances against lung disease. However, our work is not finished. As we look forward to our second century, we will continue to strive to make breathing easier for everyone through programs of education, community service, advocacy, and research. The American Lung Association's activities are supported by donations to Christmas Seals® and other voluntary contributions. You may obtain additional information via the American Lung Association Web site at http://www.lungusa