Tobacco is a leading preventable cause of death in the United States, causing more than 400,000 deaths each year. Nearly 80% of adults who smoke, admit that they started before the age of 18 years old. For this reason, it is more important than ever to educate children and teens about the dangers of smoking. To help educate the younger population, there are many are many different advocacy program and groups that provide educational prevention programs and materials for young people and educators.

In middle school, 1 in 10 students have smoked, or do smoke, cigarettes. This number is even higher for high school students, with 1 in 5 boys and 1 in 10 girls choosing to light up. Smoking cigarettes is not the only danger that presents itself to young students. Approximately 9.3% of high school students use smokeless tobacco, which is 5 times more likely to results in oral cancer. Peer pressure can be extremely influential, making it difficult to refuse a cigarette when a friend or classmate offers for fear of not being accepted or made fun of. Teaching students the proper ways to say no to cigarettes without causing conflict is the first step to an anti-tobacco lifestyle.

Equipping students with the knowledge needed when and if a situation occurs that involves cigarettes is very important. Offering students several quick ways to say no to cigarette when offered by a friend, such as “No, that stuff’s bad for your health”, or “No way, I don’t smoke”, or even “No thanks, let’s play basketball instead”. Students can suggest an alternative activity to friends or discretely remove themselves from the situation. Understanding that it’s okay to say no to cigarettes and tobacco use, as well as avoiding negative situations altogether, is always an option.

Teaching children and teens about the dangers of smoking early in life can have a major impact on the choices in their future. Although some parents and educators feel that kids do not listen or fully take in their message, many times they do. The education that you provide throughout their life on how cigarette use can harm their health will stay with them forever and help them to make healthier decisions in the future.

The following resources will provide additional information on teaching kids to say no to cigarettes and the dangers that tobacco presents to their health.

• What You Need to Know about Drugs: Kids can find information on various types of drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol and related health concerns.
• McGruff – Child Safety Center: Information on what drugs look like, how cigarettes can harm one’s health, and drugs and cigarettes on the media.
• Drugs and Alcohol – Just Say No: Types of drugs and alcohol and how users get hooked on these addicting substances.
• Teaching Refusal Skills to Children: Refusal skills that all children should learn in order to say no to cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol.
• Kids Speak Out – 8 Ways to Say No: List of great ways for children to say no to peer pressure in any situation. 
• It’s My Life – Drug Abuse: Kids speak out about the types of drugs and alcohol they’ve seen in the media, at school, and at home and what they think about smoking.
• Media Education Helps Kids “Just Say No”: Article about tobacco and alcohol use in school and children’s take on advertisements for these products.
• Helping Your Child Say “No” to Tobacco: Tips on how to raise tobacco-free children and teens.
• How to Say It – Drugs and Alcohol: Learn the leading risk factors of cigarette and drug use and how to have the “talk” about not smoking.
• Talk to Kids about Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drugs: Tips on what to say to kids to encourage them not to try cigarettes and when the best time is to talk to your child about smoking.
• Real Parents, Real Answers: This youth smoking prevention website provides facts and advice to keep kids from smoking.
• Alcohol and Drug Awareness – Teacher Resources: List of printables and educator resources to help teach kids the importance of non-tobacco use.
• 101 Ways to Say No to Cigarettes: Find basic ways to say no to friends when offered a cigarette, as well as ways with a twist.
• Smoking Facts for Teens: Learn exactly what’s in a cigarette, the many reasons to quit, and the proper steps that one should take to quit smoking.
• Helping Them Say No to Drugs: Several effective ways to help our children say “no” to drugs and cigarettes.
• Teen Smoking: 10 Ways to Help Teens Stay Smoke-Free: Here you will find ten great ways to help your teen resist smoking.
• American Cancer Society: List of podcasts about the dangers of smoking and how you can help kids say no.
• Keeping Kids Drug Free: The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program helps keep kids away from drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes.
• Quit Smoking Today: Information on the harmful effects of smoking and a step-by-step guide on how to quit.
• Talking with Kids about Smoking: Helpful strategies to help adults talk to kids about smoking.
• Teaching Your Son or Daughter How to Say “No”: Information on peer pressure and nice ways to say “no” to drugs and alcohol.
• 55 Reasons Not to Start Smoking: List of reasons for children and teens on the many tobacco related illnesses and disadvantages of smoking.
• Passive Smoking: Learn about passive smoking, living with a smoker, and what can happen when you breathe in this smoke.
• Cigarette Smoking Statistics: The American Heart Association presents statistics on smoking in the United States.
• Kids Against Tobacco Smoke: Information on how kids can take action, as well as resources for parents and teachers.
• Information about Smoking: The unsettling facts about smoking and how it can affect your body and life.