Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116848

Kathryn Thompson, MHA¹, Christy Brooks, MSSW, CSW¹, Michelle Higgins², and Adewale Troutman, MD, MA, MPH³. (1) Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program, Louisville Metro Health Department, 400 East Gray Street, Room 4, Louisville, KY 40202-1754, 502-574-5716, katie.thompson@loukymetro.org, (2) Youth Services Coordinator, Community Health Project at Park DuValle, 2900 Dr. William G. Weathers Drive, Senior Building, Louisville, KY 40211-5805, (3) Director Louisville Metro Health Department, U of L School of Public Health, 400 East Gray Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1704

Youth today are not only smoking cigarettes, but they are also taking the tobacco out of cigars and substituting it with marijuana (blunts) as well as regular cigars (ex. Black and Milds, Swisher Sweets). After several presentations on tobacco use, a need to develop a program that targets youth who use these products was recognized. Education materials on this specific subject were not available. A program called “Let's Be Blunt!”, consisting of a training/reference manual, an educational videotape in the format of a hip-hop music video, and pre- and post-test evaluations, was created that targets youth who use cigars as well as cigarettes. Trained peer leaders will apply the knowledge learned during trainings to educate other teens about the harmful effects of smoking, and the data from the pre- and post-tests will be analyzed to assess the effectiveness of the program.

Learning Objectives:

• 3. Identify peer leaders to be trained as peer educators to administer program to other youth.
  7. Train teens to educate other teens about the harmful effects of smoking.
  11. Prevent the initiation of smoking among youth and encourage cessation for youth who smoke.
  15. Develop youths' social, communication, team building, and conflict resolution skills.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation