N-O-T an Option: Curbing Smoking Habits in Teens
If you gathered all students from Cherry Creek, Chatfield, East, Palmer, and Greeley West High Schools you would have the number of Colorado youths who become regular smokers each year. At this rate, you could completely fill Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium with teenage smokers in only seven years!
According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 90 percent of adults started smoking by age 18. Therefore a need exists for programs that focus on teen cessation in high schools, where many smokers begin their lifelong habit. Developed by the American Lung Association, Not on Tobacco (N-O-T), provides support for high school students who want to quit smoking.
“All of our N-O-T students have either quit smoking or have drastically cut down? says Linda Jelinek a N-O-T facilitator from Alameda High School. “Many went from smoking two packs of cigarettes a day to only two cigarettes, midway through our program.?
N-O-T is a ten-session, voluntary quit smoking program for young people. The American Lung Association of Colorado trains and supports facilitators who implement the N-O-T program in high schools throughout the state. ALA provides student incentives, facilitator stipends, and program materials.
“This past school year we reached 830 students in 52 high schools throughout Colorado?, says ALAC tobacco program manager Diane Draper, adding “next year we plan to expand and reach students at 100 high schools.?
The N-O-T application for the upcoming school year is now available online at www.notcolorado.org. Contact Diane Draper at 303-847-0272 or ddraper@lungcolorado.org
for more information.
5600 Greenwood Plaza Blvd.
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Phone: (303) 388-4327
Fax: (303) 377-1102
www.lungcolorado.org
Outside Denver Metro:
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Improving Life,
One Breath at a Time
The mission of the
American Lung
Association of Colorado is
to prevent lung disease
and promote lung health.