Capitalizing on recent honors bestowed upon Arkansas by the American Lung Association in curtailing tobacco prevention and spe

Handsel Art

Date: 17 February 2008

For Immediate Release

Contact: J.R. Few at

(870) 427-1365 or email

Aspire Arkansas

The Arkansas Department of Health is pleased to announce ASPIRE is coming to Arkansas. ASPIRE (A Smoking Prevention Interactive Experience) is a multimedia Web-based tobacco prevention and cessation program for youth. Findings show that ASPIRE represents a promising approach in preventing tobacco use among minority high school students.

Funded by the National Cancer Institute, the program was designed to create and evaluate an interactive smoking prevention and cessation program for middle and high school students. ASPIRE helps educators, health care professionals and other adults give youths the tools they need to make smart choices about tobacco.

A 2007 Youth Tobacco Survey shows Arkansas’ teen smoking rates dropping 43% since 2000. Dr. Carolyn Dresler, Branch Chief of the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Branch notes, “Even with the success Arkansas has shown in youth tobacco prevention and cessation, the Department of Health recognizes the importance of continuing to make strides and educating people about the dangers of tobacco, which is why we’re sponsoring the ASPIRE presentation. We thank the Arkansas Department of Education for partnering with us to bring this powerful message to Arkansas.”

Media and web coordinator for Tobacco-Free Marion County, J.R. Few adds, “Linking to the ASPIRE site will provide a new tool for the community to reach those most targeted by tobacco, teens.” TFMC maintains web resources for challenging tobacco at www.tobaccofreemc.com.

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Dr. Carolyn Dresler heads the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Branch for the Arkansas Department of Health. TPCB is collaborating with the National Cancer Institute for ASPIRE web based challenges to tobacco.

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See our Youth page for link to ASPIRE!