At a Glance

• Audience: High school students who use tobacco
• Goal: To help these students kick the deadly habit of tobacco use

Our eight-week STOP program helps and high school-aged youth kick a deadly habit that is one of the most difficult to break -- using tobacco.

The voluntary program is facilitated by a BJC health educator and meets during school hours. A school faculty member must be willing to sponsor and lend support to students when needed. Interested students voluntarily attend an orientation meeting to explore the requirements and responsibilities of the STOP program. If still interested in breaking their tobacco habit, the students meet weekly for eight weeks to receive information and group support on becoming and staying tobacco-free.

Session topics include:

• Short-term and long-term health effects of tobacco use
• Ways to handle cravings and triggers
• The truth about tobacco advertising
• Dealing with relapse, weight gain and stress
• Setting a stop date and handling high-risk situations

Upon completion of the program, STOP participants continue to meet monthly for follow-up sessions to support their success. Students are encouraged to establish and participate in an advocate program led by a BJC School Outreach and Youth Development instructor through which they tell their stories and educate their peers about the dangers of tobacco use and the difficulties they faced while trying to quit.

Show-Me Standards and MAP Skills Addressed

• Learn how tobacco and second-hand smoke can affect body systems
• Evaluate how the media can influence the decision to use tobacco
• Discuss how healthy relationships and positive self-concept can assist in resisting tobacco use
• Plan strategies to resist pressures to use tobacco
• Propose alternatives to tobacco use