ASPIRE (A Smoking Prevention Interactive Experience) is a free online educational resource from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. ASPIRE delivers tobacco prevention education to teens and adolescents at a self-directed pace. The program is evidenced-based and tackles the full range of traditional and emerging products such as e-cigarettes, hookah, JUUL and synthetic marijuana.
During the program, students travel through interactive modules and complete quizzes. They hear testimonials from former smokers, health care professionals, students and cancer survivors. The program is available in both English and Spanish and aligns with national education standards.
Additional Resources:
- This is Quitting. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is proud to partner with the Truth Initiative to offer This is Quitting to Texas young people ages 13-24. Youth can text VAPEFREETX to 88709 to receive free, anonymous, 24/7 support through this program. Parents of young vapers can text QUIT to 202-899-7550 to receive messages designed specifically for them, including tips and advice for helping to support their young person quit. If you would like to receive materials to promote This is Quitting, complete this interest form.
- National Youth Cessation Resources. MD Anderson alongside 20 public health, medical and government organizations created a national repository of tools and resources for those seeking to help youth quit tobacco use. Through this webpage, parents, teachers, healthcare professionals and others who work with young people can find the latest information, resources, and progams created specifically for youth tobacco cessation.
- Tobacco and E-cigarette/Vaping Presentations. We are pleased to announce that ASPIRE schools can schedule Truth about Tobacco and Vaping Presentations for students through MD Anderson Community Relations and Education team. If you would like to request a presentation, complete this form.
- CATCH My Breath. CATCH My Breath offers an evidence-based e-cigarette prevention program for grades 5-12. The program is free to use and includes resources for parents. Follow the link to the CATCH My Breath website to learn more.
- SAY WHAT! Have your students completed the ASPIRE modules and are now enthusiastic about tobacco prevention for their peers? Students who are interested in learning more and becoming an advocate for a tobacco-free generation can join or create a Say What! Advocacy group. If you are interested as an adult champion, and have students that are interested, you can find out more here.
- Cannabis and Marijuana Prevention Toolkit. For any parents or educators that are looking for resources for students about marijuana and cannabis products, there is a Cannabis Awareness and Prevention Toolkit from Stanford Medicine. The program is online, free, theory-based, and intended for middle and high school students. Click the link above for more information.
ASPIRE Resources
Download our Memorandum of Understanding for review.
We'll send you a tailored MOU in Word for your entity to complete once we receive your interest survey.
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ASPIRE was revised and updated in January 2018 (version 2.0). This version includes new and emerging products such as e-cigarettes, vaping, hookah and synthetic marijuana. The interactive tool of ASPIRE 2.0 was generously supported by the Hildebrand Foundation.
ASPIRE News
How Houston kids are learning about the dangers of vaping
“Vaping has replaced cigarettes for many teens. Now some local institutions right here in Houston are taking action. DeBakey High School downtown has initiated a program called ASPIRE within their curriculum, which aims to help students learn about the dangers of vaping. The goal of the program is to keep kids engaged as they learn. Roughly 15 other school
districts in the Houston area have also signed on to utilize ASPIRE. MD Anderson reps say they hope more districts will utilize it as well, so more young vapors know what the risk is.”
Listen to and read the complete story on NPR.
ASPIRE is informing students on the dangers of vaping
“HISD students and MD Anderson Cancer researchers are partnering on a smoking and vaping prevention program. Texas has the highest number of vaping related hospital cases in the nation, with many of those involving high school students. ASPIRE is informing
students about the dangers of vaping and keeps kids engaged while they learn.”
Listen to the complete story on NPR.
El Distrito Escolar de Houston busca aumentar el conocimiento de los estudiantes sobre los riesgos del vapeo con la ayuda de el programa ASPIRE
“Las últimas cifras del Centro para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC) revelan que ya son 48 fallecidos y más de 2,200 hospitalizaciones por incidentes relacionados con el vapeo. Debido a esto, la escuela preparatoria Michael E. DeBakey, en Houston, retomó el programa ASPIRE de MD Anderson Cancer Center.”
Mira el video complete de Univision.
MD Anderson and HISD Partnership
MD Anderson and HISD partner for youth tobacco prevention program
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Houston Independent School District (HISD) have reached a first-of-its-kind agreement to provide access to an evidence-based, youth-oriented tobacco prevention and cessation program for all 100,000 HISD middle and high school students.
This website is based on the school curriculum called ASPIRE (A Smoking Prevention Interactive Experience) developed by MD Anderson Cancer Center with assistance from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Funding has been provided by the National Cancer Institute, the George & Barbara Bush Endowment for Innovative Cancer Research and Tobacco Settlement Funds. ASPIRE has been thoroughly reviewed and included in the NCI's RTIPs database as an evidence-based program as well as being endorsed by SAMHSA and the Cochrane Review.