 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Eileen M. Eisen-Cohen, MSW, ABD, Division of Chronic Disease and Tobacco Control, Maricopa County Tobacco Use Prevention Program, 1 North 1st Street, Suite 700, Phoenix, AZ 85004, 602-372-8424, eileeneisen-cohen@mail.maricopa.gov, James R. Allen, MD, MPH, Division of Chronic Disease and Tobacco Control, Maricopa County Department of Public Health, 1845 E. Roosevelt Street, Phoenix, AZ 85006, and Mary Halter, Boys and Girls Club of Metropolitan Phoenix, 2645 N. 24th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85018.
A partnership between Maricopa County Tobacco Use Prevention Program and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix has enabled an effective tobacco prevention program to be institutionalized in the four juvenile detention facilities in Maricopa County. This study provides the details of program design, implementation and evaluation of providing an effective program with these high-risk taking youth. This innovative program combines tobacco use prevention information with sexual health prevention to try to reduce risk-taking behaviors of this population. Approximately 800 Arizona youths aged 13 to 17 are in these four detention facilities. Mean length of stay is highly variable. Of the youth committed to residential facilities, approximately 90% of this group reports using tobacco with 76% defined as daily users. Most (60%) began use by age 10. While 45% stated that they wanted to quit using tobacco at pre-intervention, this increased to 70% at post-intervention. Other measures of post-intervention knowledge and attitude change demonstrate important increases about significance of the health effects of tobacco use. Sample statements by the youth include: “If you want to satisfy yourself and your girl, give up putting smoke inside your body,” “If you want to keep it up, better give it up.” Significant findings include intention beyond detention: “not smoking and being more conscious about my sexual activity,” “giving me some things to think about and apply to my life.” Details of program curricula, implementation and evaluation results will be presented.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Tobacco, Youth
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.