The effectiveness of a tobacco prevention program with adolescents living in a tobacco-producing region

Objectives. This study investigated the efficacy of a social-influences tobacco prevention program conducted with adolescents living in a high tobacco production area. Methods. Students in 10 experimental schools completed the tobacco prevention program and a booster intervention. Control students received health education as usual. Results. After 2 years of treatment, smoking rates in the treatment group (vs the control group) were lower for 30-day, 7-day, and 24-hour smoking. The intervention had more of an impact on those who were involved in raising tobacco than it did on those not involved in raising tobacco. Conclusions. Although modest, effects were achieved with minimal intervention time in a high-risk group, indicating that social-influences prevention programs may be effective in such groups.