The Botvin LifeSkills Training, a research-validated substance abuse prevention program, was implemented to prevent cigarette use among Delaware youth, which is a potential gateway drug and can lead to the use of alcohol, marijuana and other harmful drugs. Vigorous youth education and the rising cost of tobacco products have caused a decline in youth and adult abuse. However, it still poses a threat, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention:

If smoking continues at the current rate among youth in the U.S., 5.6 million of today’s Americans younger than 18 will die early from a smoking-related illness
Nearly 9 out of 10 cigarette smokers first tried smoking by age 18; 99% first tried smoking by age 26
Use of electronic cigarettes increased among middle and high school students from 2011 to 2015
Scientific evidence shows that tobacco company advertising and promotion influence youth to start smoking

RESPONSE

The Botvin LifeSkills Program reached 138 elementary school students (third–sixth grades):

In an afterschool program in a school setting (one site)
In public school settings during school hours (four sites)
At community centers (four sites)

Teachings included self-esteem, decision making, smoking, advertising, dealing with stress, communication skills, social skills and assertiveness.
The program reached 249 middle school students (seventh–ninth grades):

In an afterschool program in a school setting (one site)
In a public school setting during school hours (one site)
In private school settings during school hours (eight sites)
In community centers (four sites)

Teachings included self-image, decision making, smoking, alcohol, marijuana, advertising, violence and media, coping with anxiety and anger, communication skills, social skills, assertiveness and conflict resolution.