Tobacco & Health
Smokeless Saturday
Smokeless Saturday is a teen education and cessation program for students found with tobacco on school grounds. It offers an alternative to suspension and fines to those students violating school tobacco policies.
Under current Pennsylvania law, students using or possessing tobacco at school may be disciplined by school administrators or referred to the district magistrate who can fine students $128.50.
"Both options proved counterproductive," said Mary Ann Valasek, Smokeless Saturday coordinator. "Discipline alone does not discourage tobacco use or help the student quit smoking or chewing."
As a result, Healthy Lungs Pennsylvania designed a program that provides students with the tools to make healthier choices and learn how to quit. A student found smoking in school can attend Smokeless Saturday rather than pay a fine.
Smokeless Saturday is a one-day session taught by trained facilitators at 22 community sites throughout western Pennsylvania. Students learn about smoking triggers, how to deal with stress, the long- and short-term consequences of tobacco use and how to quit successfully.
Nearly 700 students attend Smokeless Saturday annually. A recent survey of the participants showed that 40% quit using tobacco for more than five months; indicating that students were motivated to quit.
To download a pdf of the Smokeless Saturday Referral Form, click HERE .
Ask questions and get immediate video responses from experienced asthma physicians and well-known Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee.
