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Economic Development and Quality of Life for People and Communities
Tobacco Use Prevention Program
Issue
The Department of Health and Human Services reported in July ‘98
that "Persons with lower income or education had a higher prevalence
of health risk factors such as cigarette smoking." In 1995, the
least educated men and women were more than twice as likely to smoke
as the most educated. A survey released in July ‘98 by Arizona
Department of Public Services reported that 15 percent of high school
age youth had smoked in the last month, compared with 36.4 percent nationally
in 1997. The Arizona survey found that the rate of tobacco use in the
past month was less than 1 percent for youth in the 10-11 age group
(fifth and sixth grades), and that it gradually increased to 21.2 percent
for youth in the 16-17 age group (junior and seniors in high school).
Surveys conducted in the Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Guadalupe Tobacco Prevention
Program (TAG TUPP) communities showed that youth in this region are
most likely to begin experimenting with cigarettes from 11-13 years
of age. More than 80 percent of the students said it was very important
to have activities that educate youth on the harmful effects of tobacco.
What has been done?
The 4-H Tobacco Use Prevention Program encourages youth to become actively
involved in their communities as recognized tobacco use prevention education
resources. The targeted communities include Tempe, Ahwatukee and Guadalupe,
Arizona. Under the guidance of professional staff members from the University
of Arizona Cooperative Extension, seventh and eighth-graders are trained
as peer leaders to teach the Tobacco Risk Awareness Program (TRAP) to
younger youth. TRAP provides factual information about the health risks
of tobacco usage. The program includes information and curriculum on
smokeless tobacco and smoking tobacco dangers, videos and fun hands-on
activities. The premise is that youth will gain knowledge of the health
hazards of tobacco use and will not use tobacco as teens or adults.
Impact
As of June 30, 2002, 189 youth from the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades
were recruited and enrolled as peer leaders in four communities in Tempe,
Arizona. Eighty-two peer leaders (54.67 percent) increased their public
speaking presentation skills by 72 percent based on pre- and post-listener
evaluation surveys. Seventy-eight peer leaders (52 percent) increased
their knowledge in leadership by 63.3 percent based on pre- and post-
leadership skills assessments. Peer leaders presented anti-tobacco demonstrations
based on Tobacco Risk and Awareness Prevention curriculum to 381 youth
in the 3rd, 4th and 5th grades in the four communities.
"Not only have I learned about tobacco prevention, I've also learned
about being a leader. I have taught kids about the dangers of smoking."
–middle school peer leader.
Funding
This program is conducted by the University of Arizona 4-H Youth Development
and is funded by Tempe, Ahwatukee, Guadalupe Tobacco Use Prevention
Program (Centro de Amistad, Inc.), Maricopa County Tobacco Use Prevention
Program and Arizona Tobacco Education Prevention Program.
Contact
Marifloyd Hamil, 4-H agent
Maricopa County Cooperative Extension
The University of Arizona
4341 E. Broadway Road
Phoenix, AZ 85040-8807
Tel: (602) 470-8086 ext. 344, FAX: (602) 470-8092
Email: mhamil@ag.arizona.edu
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