TRU 101: Youth, Adults, and Tobacco Use

Prevention

tobacco.reality.unfiltered (TRU) Adult Leader Training

Facts and Statistics

Tobacco is the #1 preventable cause of death.

Each year, 11,900 adults in North Carolina die from their own smoking (smoking-related causes).

Almost 90% of all adult smokers begin at or before the age of 18.

Each day, more than 2,000 kids under 18 become new regular, daily smokers.

Smoking costs North Carolina more than $5.7 billion annually in health care costs and lost productivity.

The addiction rate for smoking is higher than the addiction rates for marijuana, alcohol, or cocaine.

Cigarette butts are the #1 most littered item—the filters in the butts are made of plastic and are not biodegradable.

1,200 Americans lose their life every day to tobacco use.

According to the NC Youth Tobacco Survey results, the rates of high school students who smoke:

20.3 19

15.8

31.6

27.3

27.8

0

10

20

30

40

50Goal Results

According to the NC Youth Tobacco Survey results, the rate of middle school students who smoke:

5.84.5

7.59.311.3

15

0

5

10

15

20

25

Goal Results

TRU Empowerment

TRU Empowerment

The opportunity for youth to participate in meaningful roles—with the ability to bond with adults in the environment and receive positive reinforcement and recognition. (Chinman & Linney, 1998)

TRU Advocacy

Definition:

Acting in support of a particular issue or cause—standing up for what you believe in and influencing others to change the way they think and act about an issue

TRU Empowerment

TRU Skill DevelopmentTRU Critical AwarenessTRU Opportunities

Definitions

TRU Skill Development (Learning) For example: Learning facts, practicing public speaking

TRU Critical Awareness (Analyzing & Strategizing)

For example: Action planning, asking “why” questions

TRU Opportunities (Taking Action) For example: Collecting petition signatures, speaking to

policymakers

TRU Skill Development

Learning How to Make Change

Practicing how to speak in front of policy makers and the media

Learning about effective teaching techniques for peers and youth

Discovering how to run a group and create action plans

TRU Critical Awareness

- Asking Why and How Questions Why is tobacco still a legal product when it

causes so many health problems?

Why is the tobacco tax so low in North Carolina?

How can we get more teens in our county to

remain tobacco-free?

TRU Opportunities

- Taking action to create change

Collect petition signatures

Meet with local merchants

Conduct surveys

Develop school and community events

Write letters to the editor

Empowering Outcomes

individualsTrain youth on media advocacy

Train youth on public speaking

Train youth on peer education

Train youth on media literacy

Youth write press releases

Youth speak to school boards

Youth conduct peer education

Youth create their own PSA

Empowering Outcomes

your agencyShared decision making

Clear roles & responsibilities

Nurturing leadership

Fair ways to resolve conflict

Youth set agenda & run meetings

Youth gain skills & experience

Youth grow in confidence

Team feels free to discuss concerns

Empowering Outcomes

communityEducate press to include youth voices

Youth as decision makers (not just window dressing)

Create roles for other adults

Engage new community groups

Youth consistently quoted in press

Youth participate in campaigns and on community boards

Adults volunteer & contribute

New diverse groups create programs

The TRU Movement: Making a difference in NC!