title: A national survey of tobacco cessation programs for youths.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We collected data on a national sample of existing community-based tobacco cessation programs for youths to understand their prevalence and overall characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  We employed a 2-stage sampling design with US counties as the first-stage probability sampling units. We then used snowball sampling in selected counties to identify administrators of tobacco cessation programs for youths. We collected data on cessation programs when programs were identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We profiled 591 programs in 408 counties. Programs were more numerous in urban counties; fewer programs were found in low-income counties. State-level measures of smoking prevalence and tobacco control expenditures were not associated with program availability. Most programs were multisession, school-based group programs serving 50 or fewer youths per year. Program content included cognitive-behavioral components found in adult programs along with content specific to adolescence. The median annual budget was 2000 dollars. Few programs (9%) reported only mandatory enrollment, 35% reported mixed mandatory and voluntary enrollment, and 56% reported only voluntary enrollment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is considerable homogeneity among community-based tobacco cessation programs for youths. Programs are least prevalent in the types of communities for which national data show increases in youths' smoking prevalence.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60608, USA. suecurry@uic.edu
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Curry
authors.forename: Sherry
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Emery
authors.forename: Amy K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Sporer
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mermelstein
authors.forename: Brian R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Flay
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berbaum
authors.forename: Richard B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Warnecke
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mowery
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Harmon
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hund
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wells
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002017:Budgets; D002648:Child; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D005260:Female; D006078:Government Programs / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D009111:Local Government; D008297:Male; D011635:Public Health Administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012572:School Health Services; D013383:Suburban Population; D020340:Tobacco Use Cessation / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population