Rockingham Memorial Hospital - Toward No Tobacco (TNT)

Overview

The need for tobacco prevention at the middle-school level becomes evident by examining local and state data. According to the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Office on Children and Youth 2009 Youth Survey, 35.5 percent of 10th graders in our community reported that they used tobacco annually. By 2011, there was a decrease to 30.2 percent (www.theocy.org). The Youth Tobacco Survey (YTS) showed that Virginia youth used tobacco at 31 percent in 2007 and 33 percent in 2009. Local youth are beginning to use tobacco products around age 13. By ninth grade, youth perceive that 60 percent of their friends use tobacco, even if they personally do not. The 2009 YTS report shows that 14 percent of Virginia’s middle-school students currently use tobacco products. The local youth survey indicates that 13 percent of eighth graders use tobacco at least once a year. By 12th grade, 43 percent use tobacco at least once a year. It is imperative to reach youth in middle school.

Impact

More than 1,250 seventh graders participate in the two-week, evidence-based course taught by a hospital respiratory therapist. In 1998, 33.7 percent of eighth graders reported using tobacco monthly; by 2010, that number was down to 19.3 percent. In 1998, the age of onset for using tobacco was 12.1 years; by 2010, it had increased to 13.2 years.

Challenges/success factors

Prevention efforts are wide ranging and flexible, due to the extremely diverse population of the Harrisonburg community, which includes youth representing 64 countries whose first language is often not English, plus a large Mennonite population for whom horse and buggy are the primary mode of transportation.

Future direction/sustainability

Current funding comes from the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth ($60,000 a year through 2015). Additional funding comes from a Drug Free Communities Grant. The Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) traditionally offers a three-year grant every three years. The hospital is in very good standing with VFHY and will apply for a fifth round of funding in 2015. Both school systems want the TNT curriculum to remain in their middle schools.

Advice to others

Create a diverse community coalition, including the school systems. Base your decisions on your local community, state, and national data. Have a plan in place to address specific needs, which will also help you secure funding. Finally, designate a champion for the project from among the hospital’s employees, physicians, or board members.

Contact: Katie Montgomery
Manager, Community Health
Telephone: 540-236-6631
E-mail: ksmontg1@sentara.com