Not On Tobacco program offered by Centennial Mental Health

    It is estimated that 2,200 children under the age of 18 become established smokers every day. When youth smoke, they are also at a higher likelihood to use alcohol and other drugs. One out of every three of these youth who begin smoking will go on to die from a smoking-related disease. N-O-T, Not On Tobacco, is a school-based cessation program Centennial Mental Health Center offers to combat these statistics at the source.
    A 2006 review of the N-O-T program found it was the only teen cessation program that showed results. One in five participants will stop smoking by the end of the program. This program finds its success in many ways. It is youth-centered and caters to each groups’ personal motivations. It is also a voluntary program, which means youth who participate are interested in quitting already. That means they can also encourage their friends to join and stop smoking as well. Using the stages of change model, this 10-week program can be implemented to guide, encourage and successfully stop youth from smoking harmful substances.
    This program uses many different forms of education and motivation to effectively reach every participant. While there are interactive activities completed each week, there are also reflective activities participants do on their own time. The program encourages peer support and leadership and helps those who smoke quit gradually.

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