Youth development activities empower young people to develop critical thinking, communication, creativity, and collaboration skills as they promote healthy choices.
Recommended Strategies
Service Learning – Students engage in hands-on learning opportunities while creating a healthier environment. Some examples include cigarette butt clean-ups accompanied by information about the harmful impacts on the environment and participation in youth leadership groups, such as Friday Night Live.
Peer Education – Students serve as positive role models and impact social norms by informing their peers and community about tobacco prevention issues. Youth can become involved in events such as the Great American Smokeout, World No Tobacco Day, and other education campaigns.
Media Literacy – Students learn about tobacco industry advertising techniques and co-opt them to create anti-tobacco messages and publish them through multiple outlets such as posters, PSAs, and social media posts.
Advocacy – Students work with others to advocate for positive change in their community by addressing community leaders, learning about social determinants of health, and promoting awareness about tobacco-free policies.
Attempted-Buy Sting Operations – Students participate in programs such as the Stop Tobacco Access to Kids Enforcement (STAKE) Act to raise awareness of tobacco laws among retailers and ensuring they are not selling to minors under 21.
