Youth tobacco prevention

Most smokers begin using tobacco as adolescents.

  • Interventions to prevent young people from starting to use tobacco and to encourage them to stop the need to reshape the environment so it supports tobacco-free norms.

  • Community programs and policies, and school-based policies and interventions should be part of a comprehensive effort, implemented in coordination across the community and school environments, and in conjunction with:

    • Increasing the unit price of tobacco products.

    • Sustaining anti-tobacco media campaigns.

    • Making environments smoke-free.

    • Engaging in other efforts to create tobacco-free social norms.

Second Chance

A Web-based tobacco education program for middle and high school youth who have violated a tobacco policy at school or in the community.

Smokefree Teen

  • National Cancer Institute program to help teens take control of their health.

  • Designed to help teens understand the decisions they make—especially the decision to quit smoking—and how those decisions fit into their life.

CDC Best Practices User Guide: Youth Engagement — State and Community Interventions

Provides tobacco control program managers with information on the best practices for engaging youth as a part of a comprehensive program.

FDA rules and guidance updates

As part of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulation of tobacco products immediately removes most federal pre-emption constraints on the ability of states and communities to restrict the time, manner, and place of tobacco advertising and promotions.

Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults (2012)
Surgeon General's report that examines in detail the epidemiology, health effects and causes of tobacco use among youth 12-17 and young adults 18-25.

Counter Tobacco

A resource for local, state and federal organizations working to counteract tobacco product sales and marketing at the point of sale.

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

A leading force in the fight to reduce tobacco use and its deadly toll in the United States and around the world.

Truth Initiative®

  • Dedicated to building a world where young people reject tobacco and anyone can quit.

  • Develops programs that address the health effects of tobacco use.

Truth campaign

Unfiltered, unadulterated facts about tobacco.