Smokeless Saturday School
Smokeless
Saturday is a diversion program for youth cited for violation of penal code
308(b) - possession of tobacco products or paraphernalia by a minor. The
program offers an opportunity for these offenders to learn more about tobacco
use and addiction as an alternative to the fines prescribed by the law.
Parents are also required to attend a parent component of the class that
educates them on how they can help their children refrain from smoke. The
program costs $50, lasts 4½ hours, and takes place the last Saturday
of the month from 9 am to 1:30 pm at the Breathe
California office.
The need for Smokeless Saturday School
Many minors who are cited for possession of tobacco products may be addicted or are at risk of becoming addicted. The class helps them to identify why they smoke and the dangers of smoking. Many of these youth will soon turn eighteen and will be able to legally buy tobacco products. The goal is to help them quit before a lifetime of tobacco dependency and health problems occur.
What Happens at Smokeless Saturday?
The class is based on group discussion which explores each minor’s smoking behavior and risk for addiction. The confidential nature of the program leads to open and honest communication between both class members and facilitators. The curriculum was created for at-risk teens and includes many different program components to help them learn about and refrain from smoking. These include:
- Education about the dangers and consequences of tobacco use and addiction
- Discussion and identification of reasons why each minor chooses to smoke
- Examination of the portrayal of tobacco products in the media
- Strategies and resources to avoid trigger situations
- Goal setting and coping skills
Benefits
The youth who participate in this program will come away with a clearer understanding of the risks associated with smoking, the reasons they smoke, and the tools they need to quit. Their parents will also be given resources to support their kids and encourage them not to smoke.
For more information, contact Dennis Achá at (408) 998-5865 or dennis@lungsrus.org.