The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia developed guidelines for quality school programs to prevent tobacco use. The seven recommendations include developing a school policy on tobacco use; instruction covering consequences of tobacco use, social influences on tobacco use, peer norms regarding tobacco use, and communication, decision-making and goal setting skills; tobacco prevention curriculum in grades K through 12; provide teacher training; involve families; support cessation efforts of students and staff; and review and evaluate tobacco prevention programs periodically.

Implementation of STEP8, as well as STEP6, and effective school tobacco prevention policies can help meet the CDC guidelines.

Each lesson can be taught independently and implemented in any order.  They cover the stated topic’s concept, the purpose, an objective, and any materials and supplies needed. Each lesson contains three activities.

Instructors may review and select the activity that best meets the needs of their students and the instructional setting. Most of the activities require the standard forty-five to fifty minute teaching period. For block schedules, two activities could be combined for one teaching period. A suggested evaluation is at the end of each activity.

Topics include the latest research on tobacco; successful, effective refusal skills; misrepresentation by tobacco advertisements; cessation assistance; and tobacco-free advocacy. Lesson titles are “What’s in the News?”, “You Use…You Lose!”, “Ads That Don’t Ad Up!”, “Dying to Quit!”, and “Advocacy Is the Answer!”

Additional components that teachers may find helpful are included in the curriculum. These are pre- and post-tests, Parent Meeting Guide, Student Mentoring Plan, Staff Development for Teachers, Glossary, Resource List including relevant vendors and helpful web sites, and a Compendium of STEP8 Alignment with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. A Course Evaluation at the end provides opportunity for input by instructors who have used the curriculum. For more information about STEP8, contact Texas Statewide Tobacco Education and Prevention, at 1-888-STEP-123.