Introduction
Smoke Free Leitrim is an innovative, five year smoking education and prevention project in Co. Leitrim. The project was spearheaded by the North Western Health Board in 1996. It is a school based project which initially focused on 38 Primary schools in Co. Leitrim.
Project Aims and Objectives
· To delay/prevent the onset of smoking in young people.
· To encourage young people to participate in a healthy active lifestyle.
Rationale
In spite of a reduction in adult smoking, the numbers of young people continuing to smoke remains high. Various efforts both nationally and internationally have been unsuccessful in influencing Smoking habits among this age group.
The target group
The group of 450 pupils were aged between 9 and 10 years of age and were in 4th class in 1996. This project plans to follow them through school to June 2001, when the majority will have completed 2nd year in post primary school and will have reached 14 - 15 years.
Key features
A number of key features were used in this project.
· 9/10 years was identified as a crucial time before young people start to smoke and it is hoped that by starting the project at this time to influence the attitudes which might lead to future smoking.
· All children in 4th class in Co. Leitrim were targeted to give maximum impact, giving possibilities of "County" and "Community" ownership and identity.
· There is a process involved in becoming a smoker so a long term approach was seen as best. There are crucial times within these 5 years when young people are particularly prone to starting to smoke. One of these times is the transition from primary to post primary school. Support and education will be provided before, during and after this time.
· Classroom based work is central to the project. As a result high quality teacher - friendly, pupil - friendly materials were produced.
· Local and national media were asked to highlight this project and to raise community awareness and engage parents. This exercise also provided an opportunity to affirm and recognise the work of pupils, teachers and principals.
Last year there were students dispersed in 27 post primary schools in 8 counties of Leitrim, Sligo, Donegal, Roscommon, Longford, Fermanagh, Westmeath and Dublin. The majority are now in 2nd year with some in 1st year.
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