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This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2005.065268v1 97/1/171    most recent Submit a response Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (2) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Curry, S. J. Articles by Wells, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Curry, S. J. Articles by Wells, H. Related Collections Adolescent Health School Health Other Tobacco Smoking Cessation

Susan J. Curry, PhD, Sherry Emery, PhD, Amy K. Sporer, MS, Robin Mermelstein, PhD, Brian R. Flay, DPhil, Michael Berbaum, PhD, Richard B. Warnecke, PhD, Timothy Johnson, PhD, Paul Mowery, PhD, Jennifer Parsons, MA, Lori Harmon, MA, Lisa Hund, MPH and Henry Wells, MS

At the time of the study, Susan J. Curry, Sherry Emery, Amy K. Sporer, Robin Mermelstein, Brian R. Flay, Michael Berbaum, and Richard B. Warnecke were with the Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois, Chicago. Timothy Johnson, Jennifer Parsons, and Lori Harmon are with the Survey Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Chicago. At the time of the study, Paul Mowery, Lisa Hund, and Henry Wells were with Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Susan J. Curry, PhD, Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1747 West Roosevelt Road, Room 558, Chicago, IL 60608 (e-mail: suecurry{at}uic.edu).

Objectives. We collected data on a national sample of existing community-based tobacco cessation programs for youths to understand their prevalence and overall characteristics.

Methods. We employed a 2-stage sampling design with US counties as the first-stage probability sampling units. We then used snowball sampling in selected counties to identify administrators of tobacco cessation programs for youths. We collected data on cessation programs when programs were identified.

Results. We profiled 591 programs in 408 counties. Programs were more numerous in urban counties; fewer programs were found in low-income counties. State-level measures of smoking prevalence and tobacco control expenditures were not associated with program availability. Most programs were multisession, school-based group programs serving 50 or fewer youths per year. Program content included cognitive-behavioral components found in adult programs along with content specific to adolescence. The median annual budget was $2000. Few programs (9%) reported only mandatory enrollment, 35% reported mixed mandatory and voluntary enrollment, and 56% reported only voluntary enrollment.

Conclusions. There is considerable homogeneity among community-based tobacco cessation programs for youths. Programs are least prevalent in the types of communities for which national data show increases in youths’ smoking prevalence.