Hello, I am ——–, and in today’s presentation, I will outline the development and assessment of a targeted health promotion strategy designed to mitigate tobacco and vaping use among adolescents and young adults living in suburban communities (Birdsey et al., 2022). This initiative focuses on individuals between the ages of 13 and 24 and incorporates interactive educational sessions, peer-led interventions, life skills development, and culturally sensitive cessation support to reduce tobacco use.

Overview

This program addresses the rising prevalence of tobacco and vaping use among suburban youth by focusing on awareness, prevention, and early intervention. The strategy utilizes a simulated instructional model aligned with the Healthy People 2030 framework to evaluate outcomes. Post-session analysis involves assessing SMART goal performance, examining behavioral shifts, and offering evidence-based recommendations for future improvements.

Customized Plan Addressing Tobacco and Vaping Usage

This tailored health initiative targets 25 adolescents and young adults aged 13–24, reflecting the demographic diversity of the community, including variations in ethnicity, race, and socioeconomic status. These individuals are particularly vulnerable due to social influences, aggressive marketing by tobacco companies, and limited access to cessation resources (CDC, 2024). The plan is designed to build awareness around the dangers of nicotine use, foster strong communication and refusal skills, and improve access to relevant support systems. Through dynamic learning activities and community engagement, the program aims to cultivate long-term tobacco-free behaviors among youth.

SMART Goals for Target Population

SMART Goal	Description	Measurement	Achievement Tools	Relevance	Timeline
Goal 1	90% of participants will recognize three major health risks associated with tobacco and vape use	Post-session quiz	Infographics, group discussion, myth-debunking slides	Corrects misinformation and curbs early usage	Evaluated immediately after session
Goal 2	85% of participants will verbally pledge to reduce or stop tobacco use and enroll in support services	Verbal commitment, sign-up forms	Pledge cards, QR code access, referral sheet	Encourages behavioral commitment and early support access	Completed during session
Goal 3	80% of participants will demonstrate improved self-efficacy in resisting peer pressure	Confidence surveys pre- and post-session	Scenario-based role-play, refusal strategies, guided dialogue	Builds peer resistance and personal agency	Evaluated immediately post-session

Educational and Teaching Session Highlights

The educational session used interactive components to raise participants’ understanding of the health risks associated with tobacco and vaping. Materials such as myths versus facts slides, peer discussion groups, and visual aids helped participants recognize three significant health risks—lung impairment, nicotine addiction, and elevated heart disease risk. A follow-up quiz verified learning, with most participants achieving the desired outcomes, satisfying Goal 1.

Goal 2 was approached through peer storytelling and verbal commitments from attendees to quit or reduce use. Participants received pledge cards and QR codes linking them to cessation services. While many accepted referrals and digital support, some hesitation was noted due to social and personal constraints.

Goal 3 focused on improving interpersonal resistance skills using scenario-based role-play. Participants rehearsed assertive responses to peer pressure and completed self-efficacy surveys before and after the session. Results indicated a positive shift in participants’ confidence to reject tobacco use and educate peers.

Evaluation of Goal Achievement

SMART Goal	Target %	Achieved %	Outcome Summary
Goal 1	90%	92%	Surpassed expectations; participants demonstrated significant knowledge gain through quizzes
Goal 2	85%	78%	Nearly met; challenges stemmed from peer influence and motivation
Goal 3	80%	84%	Achieved; increased self-confidence through active participation and skill-building

Recommended Revisions

Despite partial success with Goal 2, enhancements are required to overcome motivation barriers and peer influence. Two revisions are suggested:

Motivational interviewing by trained peers should be incorporated to strengthen participants’ internal motivation and engagement (Shah et al., 2022).
Ongoing support through weekly messages or social media groups should be established to offer reinforcement and provide easy access to cessation tools (AlSaleh, 2023).

These adjustments aim to enhance follow-through and solidify long-term behavioral change.

Alignment with Healthy People 2030

The health promotion initiative aligns with Healthy People 2030 priorities, particularly in reducing youth tobacco and vape usage and promoting healthier behaviors (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2020a). This project furthers these goals by improving awareness, boosting communication skills, and increasing availability of educational and cessation resources (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2020b).

Initiative Outcomes in Relation to National Objectives

The project outcomes demonstrate close alignment with national objectives. The educational component achieved notable success with 92% participant knowledge acquisition. Although the behavior change goal saw moderate success, it still demonstrated positive engagement. Confidence-building efforts met the target, confirming the success of skill-based learning. These findings support the effectiveness of the intervention while emphasizing the need for continuous support and deeper motivation strategies.

Revision Need: Peer Communication and Refusal Skills

Although Goal 3 was achieved, the post-assessment feedback indicated a need for reinforcing refusal skills, particularly in high-pressure social environments. Two modifications are proposed:

Extend role-play exercises to include more realistic, challenging peer scenarios (Reber, 2022).
Introduce peer mentorship by older adolescents who can share personal experiences and offer support strategies (Lyu et al., 2022).

These strategies are expected to improve resilience and enhance the influence of peer-led education.

Conclusion

This health promotion plan effectively addressed tobacco and vaping use among adolescents and young adults through educational outreach, skill development, and support service linkage. While most goals were met, particularly those related to knowledge and self-efficacy, the initiative would benefit from improved motivational strategies and extended peer engagement. The project’s alignment with Healthy People 2030 goals underscores its relevance and potential as a replicable model for youth-centered health promotion.

References

Alsaleh, E. (2023). Is a combination of individual consultations, text message reminders and interaction with a Facebook page more effective than educational sessions for encouraging university students to increase their physical activity levels? Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1098953. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1098953

Birdsey, J., Cornelius, M., Jamal, A., Park-Lee, E., Cooper, M., Wang, J., & Sawdey, M. (2022). Tobacco product use among middle and high school students—United States, 2022. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 71(45), 1429–1435. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7145a1

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Youth and tobacco use. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/youth_data/tobacco_use/index.htm

Lyu, J., Xu, Y., Yang, H., & Luo, J. (2022). Role of peer influence on youth smoking behavior: Evidence from China. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 304. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12620-7

Maqsood, H., Bashir, A., & Raza, A. (2024). Developing refusal skills in adolescents through interactive group education. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 29(1), 14–28. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2024.1978230

Polosa, R., O’Leary, R., Tashkin, D., Emma, R., & Caruso, M. (2022). The effect of e-cigarette aerosol emissions on respiratory health: A narrative review. Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine, 16(6), 587–599. https://doi.org/10.1080/17476348.2022.2047713