Tobacco Prevention Toolkit

Website

https://med.stanford.edu/tobaccopreventiontoolkit/about.html

Program Description

The Tobacco Prevention Toolkit (TPT), developed by Stanford Medicine's Research and Education to Empower Adolescents and Young Adults to Choose Health (REACH) Lab, is a theory-based, evidence-informed curriculum designed to prevent tobacco and nicotine use among middle and high school students. The latest version, "You and Me, Together Vape-Free," comprises six lessons covering topics such as the health effects of tobacco products, marketing strategies, and refusal skills. It also provides session presentation slides, facilitator guides, interactive activities, and data dashboards for facilitators to assess changes in students’ tobacco-related knowledge and intentions.

Prevention Category

Universal - Direct

Practice Level

Individual

Strategies

Education

Practice Components

Level
Components
Individual
Cognitive Behavioral Strategies
Connection to More Services
Education
Psychoeducation
Skills Training
Relationship
None
Community/Society
None

Risk and Protective Factors

Risk Factors
Protective Factors
Individual Risk Factors
Early initiation of substance use
Favorable attitudes towards substance abuse
Internalizing behaviors (e.g., anxiety, depression, social withdrawal)
Poor coping skills and behaviors
Individual Protective Factors
Strong coping skills (e.g., problem-solving skills, ability to stand up for beliefs and values)
Family Risk Factors
None
Family Protective Factors
None
School, Peer, and Community Risk Factors
Norms favorable towards substance use
School, Peer, and Community Protective Factors
None

Population Age

Age 6-12
Age 13-17

Populations of Focus

General Population
Hispanic or Latino
LGBTQI+

Settings

Home
School (K-12)
Community-based program
Other

Parental/Caregiver Involvement

Recommended or optional

Substance Use Prevention Focus

Tobacco

Recommended Staffing

Peers
Prevention staff
Teachers or educators

Empirical Evidence of Impact

Substance Substance-Related Behavior Population Age Evidence Strength and Study Populations of Focus
Tobacco Changes in Knowledge, Attitudes, or Beliefs Adolescents Practice-Based Evidence (General Population)1
Tobacco Reduced Use or Delayed Initiation Adolescents Practice-Based Evidence (General Population)1
References

1 Gaiha SM, Zorrilla M, Sachnoff I, Smuin S, Lazaro A, Ceballos III RD, Razo A, Halpern-Felsher, B. (2021). Development and reach of the Stanford Prevention Toolkit: implementation of a community-based participatory approach. Journal of School Health, 91:813-824. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.13074

Training and Technical Assistance

The TPT website includes a full array of curricula, lessons, programs and resources on topics. For information on further support using these resources, you can contact the Stanford REACH Lab at stanfordreachlab@stanford.edu.

Adaptations

TPT materials are available in Spanish and also include a series of lessons for 2SLGBTQ+ (the Pride Curriculum) that can be integrated into TPT.

Program Costs

Required training and implementation materials are available at no cost.

What California Providers Are Saying

What They Like About the Tobacco Prevention Toolkit

  • User-friendly curriculum with engaging visuals.
  • Focuses on informed decision-making rather than just cessation.
  • Covers the environmental impact of substance use, which resonates with students.
  • Promotes overall healthy behaviors beyond avoiding tobacco, vaping, or cannabis use.
  • Regularly updated materials keep content relevant.
  • Strong training and support for staff.
  • Responsive and supportive program developers.
  • Lessons are brief and efficiently communicate information.
  • Inclusion of information on social-emotional health and skills make it useful for more than just tobacco cessation.

 

Tips and Recommendations for Implementing Tobacco Prevention Toolkit 

  • Use pre/post tests to track student progress and program impact.
  • Adapt as needed to prioritize key lessons and tailor content to each group.
  • Keeps Students engaged by incorporating movement-based activities and Kahoot quizzes.
  • Translate content as needed; interns have adapted materials into Spanish and Hmong.
  • Prepare for data collection. Have survey codes ready and guide students through the process.
  • Lessons can be presented in different orders based on group needs.
  • Take time to prepare and familiarize yourself with the toolkit, print handouts, and plan lesson flow.
  • Leverage popular modules, the stress management lesson is particularly impactful.
  • Start with a question to engage students by introducing key lesson topics in advance.
  • Materials for younger students are limited, and may need to be supplemented with other materials.

Labels

Universal,

Individual,

Information dissemination,
Education,
Problem identification and referral,

Cognitive Behavioral Strategies,
Connection to More Services,
Education,
Psychoeducation,
Skills Training,

Early initiation of substance use,
Favorable attitudes towards substance abuse,
Internalizing behaviors (e.g. anxiety, depression, social withdrawal),
Poor coping skills and behaviors,

Strong coping skills (e.g. problem-solving skills, ability to stand up for beliefs and values),

Norms favorable towards substance use,

Age 6-12, ages 6-12,
Age 13-17, ages 13-17,

LGBTQ+, lgbtq, Hispanic, General Population,

Recommended/optional,

Tobacco,

Home,
School (K-12), k-12,
Community-based program, community based program, community/based program,
Other,

Peers,
Prevention Staff,
Teachers/Educators, teachers educators,