Why the ACES Toolkit?
“Missouri does not provide state funding for a formalized adolescent tobacco cessation program, therefore the programs are developed at a local/community level where funding and program content may be inadequate. This toolkit can be used in schools where interaction with students during the school day is consistent and provided by a school nurse.”
“Due to Missouri’s failing grade in addressing youth tobacco use, it is time that school districts take an active role in assisting our kids to quit. This toolkit provides an easy-to-follow format that does not place an undue burden on school staff to implement. It is evidence based and contains all pieces necessary in assisting youth, as well as adults, to be successful in their attempt to quit the use of tobacco products.”
“It is a helpful resource for school nursing and other school personnel.”
“The rate of tobacco use in Missouri needs to be effectively addressed. One approach is to assist adolescents with tools to quit. The toolkit is designed to assist the School Nurse or other school personnel to help students create a plan to quit, and assist with support the students will need through the process.”
“After serving as a cessation coach, I find this toolkit to be incredibly thorough, comprehensive and successfully provides all the necessary pieces to implement a cessation program.”
“Currently, the Missouri school smoking rate is higher than the national average. This toolkit provides schools with an evidence based approach to help our teens to quit smoking.”
“This is an easy, low-cost way to make the teens in Missouri healthier.”
“This toolkit will take little prep time to utilize in group or one-on-one settings. More important, it does not require that the user attend an off-site training or purchase an expensive curriculum prior to implementing.”
Importance of Adolescent Tobacco Cessation
“Our youth are the future of our state. In addition to the research that links improved health with improved academic success, the physical effects on an adolescent’s body can be long lasting. The sooner the cessation, the lower the risk of an adolescent becoming an adult tobacco user.”
“The adolescent brain is extremely susceptible to nicotine addiction. The vast majority of adult smokers started before age 18 and nearly all smokers before age 25. Yet, research is limited on effective strategies for helping youth to quit.”
“Tobacco use has been linked to many health issues that lead to death. An effective tobacco cessation intervention during adolescence can prevent nicotine addiction and severe health consequences later as an adult.”
“Nicotine is addictive and tobacco in general increases the risk of pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases. Tobacco cessation will improve the overall health of an adolescent.”
“Adolescents have the right to live a life free from the influence of Big Tobacco. It is the responsibility of adults to assist youth in learning all facts related to tobacco use as well as long-term health effects, thus lessening a young person’s chance of developing a tobacco-related illness.”
“Adolescent tobacco cessation is important because evidence shows that the vast majority of current adult smokers experience initiation prior to the age of 18.”
“If we can cut down on the number of children coming out of high school that are [tobacco users], we can make an impact on the health of many people in the State of Missouri.”
“Youth are at an increased risk of becoming addicted to nicotine. By providing an adolescent tobacco cessation program in schools across Missouri, students will have access to quit assistance in a convenient location. Helping these students quit early on in their smoking career will decrease their growth in addiction throughout the years.”