Tobacco Use Prevention and Education (TUPE)

Tobacco Use Prevention and Education (TUPE)

The TUPE Program is a grant-funded project that provides a science based, research validated prevention program to grades 6-12 across Siskiyou County.  TUPE services provided include:

• Tobacco/nicotine and cannabis prevention curriculum training for teachers;
• Neuroscience of addiction education to students;
• Cessation and intervention services for tobacco/nicotine and cannabis use;
• Tobacco peer education to middle schools;
• California Healthy Kids Survey administration annually, county-wide;
• Tobacco-free campus board policy review and renewal;
• Alternative to suspension policy guidance and support;
• Youth development activities;
• Technical assistance for substance-use prevention and education; and
• Collaboration with other community agencies to achieve shared goals.

Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of preventable death in America.  Over 90% of adult tobacco/nicotine users began before the age of 18 and it is often the first risk behavior initiated by school-aged youth.  Further, flavored vape devices that contain high levels of nicotine have been successfully advertised to young people, reducing their perceptions of harm and increasing youth susceptibility of nicotine addiction at a young age.  The link between tobacco/nicotine use and other substance-use, low school engagement and poor academic outcomes is well established, further emphasizing the importance of tobacco/nicotine prevention in school-aged youth.

 

Tobacco and Cannabis Crossover

Tobacco/nicotine smoke and cannabis smoke share a similar toxicity profile and both substances pose significant risks to the developing brains of adolescents.  The co-use of cannabis and tobacco is common amongst California youth, over 60% of cannabis users are also concurrent tobacco/nicotine users.  Cannabis products, especially flavored products, are advertised heavily to youth using the same tactics tobacco companies have used for decades.  Since the legalization of adult recreational cannabis in 2016, there has been a decrease in youth’s perception that cannabis can be harmful to their health, which is discordant with the available science.  For these reasons, and more, decades of tobacco prevention successes are being applied to the prevention of youth cannabis use.  

TUPE Cessation/Intervention Referral Form – Tobacco and Cannabis

Contact

Elizabeth Riggall, Coordinator of Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE)