The RI Department of Health is very active in supporting youth tobacco prevention. Health is currently funding the Rhode Island Employee Assistance Program, Inc. (RIEAP, Inc.) to develop and implement statewide school tobacco prevention programs. RIEAP, Inc. is working with five Rhode Island middle schools to adapt a specially designed evidence-based tobacco control curriculum. Additional schools are being contacted for participation in the program.

Goals of the Program Include:

Develop and strengthen tobacco control policies and enforcement.
Improve existing smoking cessation programs and tobacco prevention initiatives.
Promote and establish new science-based tobacco curriculum.

Program Components Include:

Middle school health education teachers will be specially trained to identify and implement an evidence-based tobacco prevention curriculum.
Student Assistant Counselors assist with the program by identifying at risk students and refer them to additional services.
Student Assistant Counselors also help to initiate Youth Substance Abuse Task Forces within schools. The task forces are student-led and help to empower students to make changes regarding current tobacco policy and social norms.

Participating Schools Include:

Barrington Middle School (Barrington)
Babcock Middle School (Westerly)
Cumberland Middle School (Cumberland)
V.J. Gallagher Middle School (Smithfield)
Ponaganset Middle School (North Scituate)

RESOURCES

RIEAP Student Assistance Services - Tobacco Prevention and Control Project
Rhode Island Student Assistance Services (RIEAP) helps schools select an evidence-based tobacco prevention curriculum, particularly at the middle school level. RIEAP, in collaboration with the RI Department of Health, is implementing statewide Tobacco Prevention and Control Projects in Rhode Island middle schools to prevent tobacco use, strengthen school policies, and smoking cessation programs, and establish new science-based tobacco curriculum.Every fall, they also host Vic DeNoble, a tobacco industry whistleblower, who makes dynamic tobacco presentations in schools.

thrive is Rhode Island’s Coordinated School Health Program website, which help communities and schools work together to more effectively address health issues. Partners in thrive, the Rhode Island Department of Education and Department of Health work together to build infrastructure supports with state, school, and community partners to help create safe, healthy, and nurturing schools that reduce barriers to learning.
thrive provides the following Tobacco Related Resources; why you should care about tobacco, state school requirements, best practices, tobacco related data, resources for parents, teachers and school administrators and links to further resources.

http://www.anti-smoking.org/children.htm - The Truth about Tobacco offers an anti-smoking live assembly program for middle and high schools. The Truth About Tobacco is fully illustrated with film clips, cool graphics, photos and great anti-smoking TV spots. It was created for 7th through 12th grade.

Preventing Tobacco Use Among Young People - A Report of the Surgeon General (1994)is the first in this series to focus on young people. It underscores the seriousness of tobacco use, its relationship to other adolescent problem behaviors, and the responsibility of all citizens to protect the health of our children.

Learn how smoking affects the entire body!