Outage Alert
The ASPIRE portal is currently not working. A problem has been identified, and we are working diligently to correct the issue. We will update you via email, Facebook, or our website when the system returns to normal. We apologize for the interruption and thank you for your continued efforts to be free from tobacco and e-cigarettes.
A Smoking Prevention Interactive Experience (ASPIRE) is a free, bilingual, online curriculum, fully aligned with National Education Standards, as well as with 21st Century Skills, that helps middle and high school teens learn to be tobacco free while explaining the dangers of tobacco and nicotine use.
The program is evidence-based and tackles the full range of traditional and emerging products such as e-cigs, hookah, JUUL and synthetic marijuana. Assessments are imbedded and gauge users’ knowledge before and after exposure to the curriculum.
- 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.
- 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.”
- User support is provided.
Access the new ASPIRE 2.0 and begin your journey to a
healthy, tobacco-free future.
healthy, tobacco-free future.
COVID-19 Update
Tobacco use may increase the risk of serious symptoms of the COVID-19 illness. The ASPIRE team is working remotely to make sure that our curriculum is available for your students as one of the best resources for distance learning. In these tough times, we are happy to serve and deliver content online to adolescents. We are available by phone and email to address your needs. Bring tobacco prevention education to your classroom. Make a difference.
Access ASPIRE 2.0
The new ASPIRE includes new and emerging products such as e-cigs, hookah and synthetic marijuana. Choose a login below to get started.
Free, bilingual online curriculum used by school districts, community
organizations, and juvenile court systems nationwide and
internationally. Join ASPIRE at your state and become our partner today.
ASPIRE Hero of the Month
Theresa Owen is a Dean of Students at the Center Grove High School from the Center Grove Community School Corporation in Greenwood, IN. She ensures high school students learn about the dangers of smoking and vaping through their in-school suspension program utilizing ASPIRE. This year, she focused on educating students through their Health classes, as part of their online curriculum during the new virtual learning era of these trying times with COVID-19.
Her efforts reached parents, who have been supportive of their students completing the ASPIRE Program. As a result, students that she followed up with, indicated that the program was informative and helpful.
Theresa Owen is a great example of how an involved leader can guide students and their family in the right direction. Her efforts at creating a microbiome of tobacco-free and vaping resistant place are laudable. The ASPIRE team is proud to have Theresa as a partner in the march against tobacco and nicotine products, especially e-cigarettes.
We salute such teachers and leaders, particularly on World No Tobacco Day.
Ms. Mari Dunlap is a teacher at DeBakey High School for Health Professions (HISD).
“I have heard about the Aspire program from other HOSA teachers and decided to implement it on our campus since younger populations are prone to smoking and vaping problem,” - says Ms. Dunlap.
She inspires all of her students to participate in the ASPIRE program and in our media contests on a regular basis. She believes collaborating with the ASPIRE team at MD Anderson brings many opportunities to students and prepares them for the real world. Last year, Julian Ruger, one of Ms. Dunlap’s students, was selected as an intern through the 2019 Summer Research Experience at MD Anderson.
The ASPIRE team is grateful to Ms. Dunlap for being such an innovative and caring teacher. Thank you for helping us educate youth about the harms of tobacco.
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.
ASPIRE Texas Educators' Summit 2019
DeBakey High School students Julian Ruger, Farooq Siddiqui and Tabitha Pravinkumar.
DeBakey High School Health Science teacher Ms. Dunlap is sharing her students’ experience with ASPIRE.
The ASPIRE team hosted the Texas Educators' Summit to share ASPIRE achievements and to appreciate our devoted ASPIRE heroes.
Salma Marani, Ms. Pierre (the Village High School internship coordinator), Dr. Karen Calabro, and the Goli family.
Dr. Dunnington and Dr. Prokhorov. Special thanks to our wonderful keynote speaker, Dr. Joel Dunnington, a world famous tobacco-control activist.
Dr. Dunnington and Dr. Calabro in the Art Gallery discussing the best students' work inspired by ASPIRE.
Farooq Siddiqui and Julian Ruger by Farooq’s award winning poster.
The ASPIRE team hosted the Texas Educators’ Summit on May 30, 2019. ASPIRE achievements were shared among educators, students and parents as we showed our appreciation for our ASPIRE heroes. The Art Gallery, in observance of World No Tobacco Day, was also featured in the MD Anderson Park Donor Wall. This event highlighted students’ ‘tobacco-free generation’ art work inspired by the ASPIRE Program. We would like to thank everyone who attended the event.
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.
Log in to ASPIRE 1.0
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.