November 15, 2018 is the Great American Smokeout -- an annual event sponsored by the American Cancer Society (ACS). It is held on the third Thursday of November. On November 18, 1976, the California Division of the American Cancer Society successfully prompted nearly one million smokers to quit for the day. That California event marked the first Smokeout.
This social engineering event focuses on encouraging Americans to quit tobacco smoking. People are challenged to stop smoking for at least 24 hours assuming that their decision not to smoke will last longer, hopefully forever.
In preparation for this year's event, the ASPIRE team reached out to the community and brought educational events to schools. We met with teachers and students to explain the harmful effects of nicotine-related products to which our youth are exposed, such as, e-cigarettes, JUULs, etc.
Thank you to all the student participants in our PSA (Public Service Announcement) Challenge who submitted awesome videos and posters inspired by the ASPIRE program. We also thank teachers for their encouragement, guidance and dedication to the values of a tobacco-free world.
Take a sneak peek at some of our PSA Challenge submissions below!
PSA Challenge submissions
Yadira
Mabel
Lizbeth
Migo
Kaylee
Isabella
Izzie
ASPIRE is a bilingual, online tool that helps middle and high school teens learn about being tobacco free. It explains the dangers of tobacco and nicotine use, so they never start smoking. Or, if they already do, it gives information and ways to quit.
- Students can earn a certificate of completion upon finishing the program. Click on “Student Log In” to begin.
- Teachers/Administrators can see students’ progress by logging in to the Admin site.
- Parents can help their teens be tobacco and nicotine free.
- Healthcare providers can refer teen patients to this engaging tobacco/nicotine resource.
- Anyone can see what ASPIRE offers to fit their needs by clicking on “ASPIRE Select.”
Access the new ASPIRE 2.0
The new ASPIRE includes new and emerging products such as e-cigs, hookah and synthetic marijuana.
ASPIRE Resources
ASPIRE Community Images
DeBakey and Furr High School in front of MD Anderson Tree Sculpture
DeBakey and Furr High School students attending conference at MD Anderson
DeBakey and Furr High School students attending conference at MD Anderson
DeBakey High School students in classroom
DeBakey High School students in classroom
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.
ASPIRE News
ASPIRE educates Arizona youth about the hazards of smoking
The ASPIRE program was recently launched in middle schools and high schools in Mohave County, Arizona. The Mohave Valley Daily News describes the program as a way to end generational smoking habits.
“Nearly a quarter of adults in Mohave County smoke cigarettes, and this habit in families tends to become generational,” said Susan Williams, coordinator of Tobacco Use and Chronic Disease Prevention Program in the Mohave County Department of Public Health. “The ASPIRE program is an important opportunity to educate youth on the hazards of tobacco use and help encourage Mohave County students to become a tobacco-free generation.”
Read the complete Mohave Valley Daily News article.
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.