Problem/Objective: Project Smokebusters is a three-year continuum based on the Centers for Disease Control Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control for youth grades 8-12 that empowers them to become critical thinkers, avoid tobacco use, and advocate for a tobacco free environment through policy change. Appropriate audiences would be health departments, schools and community volunteers.

Methods: Phase I strategies include recognizing the characteristics of audiences, the negative effects of tobacco's chemistry, tobacco advertising's deception, and then developing self confidence to advocate for policy change. Phase II includes using media resources for advocacy while collaborating with target sites. Phase III includes learning about “Big Tobacco's” negative influence, how to use the truth to educate and how to develop skills to approach boards for change. We will also show the progression from the student's school based activities to activism within their community.

Results: We will demonstrate how it began in 17 northeast counties in Missouri and has now been incorporated into 116 school districts throughout the state with over 1,345 students and mentors trained in 2006. The project has been responsible for over 312,360 direct and indirect contacts within the state in 2005 delivering a tobacco free message through presentations and media. Through a compilation of data, you will see the proven results of the project from its first policy change to 40 known policy changes throughout the state.

Conclusions: We will present a synopsis of the program, give proven results and show how to progress it to other areas. Cost of Project Smokebusters in your area-priceless!