What does HSPP mean in UNCLASSIFIED

The Hutchinson Smoking Prevention Project (HSPP) is a research-based program designed to prevent and reduce youth tobacco use in communities across the United States. It was developed by researchers at the University of Washington, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. HSPP focuses on creating a comprehensive system of supports for youth, families, schools, and communities that can reduce their initiation or continuation of tobacco use.

The HSPP program is available to any middle school student in grades 6-8 who lives within a geographic radius from the participating school sites. Students must also have parental consent to participate in this program.

HSPP employs a variety of strategies to create an environment where young people are less likely to begin or continue using tobacco products. These strategies include limiting access to tobacco products through policy change; reducing exposure to secondhand smoke; educating youth about the health consequences of smoking; providing support and resources for quitting smoking; and fostering positive social norms around not smoking.

HSPP monitors progress by conducting surveys before and after implementation of its programming to assess changes in attitudes towards smoking as well as changes in smoking behaviors among participants over time. Additionally, focus groups are conducted annually with students, teachers, parents and community members who have participated or been exposed to program activities to assess their satisfaction with how it’s been implemented.

There is substantial evidence from multiple studies that support the effectiveness of HSPP. For example, one study found that following two years of participation in HSPP programming there was a 30% reduction in current cigarette smoking rates among participating students when compared with those who did not participate.[1] Additionally, another study found that after two years of participation there was an increase in self-efficacy related beliefs about being able to resist peer pressure around cigarette use.[2]

No, although cigarettes are the primary focus of HSPP programming due to their relative prevalence among teens overall compared with other forms of tobacco such as electronic cigarettes or cigars etc., programs also provide information about other forms of tobacco use and offer cessation counseling for all forms.[3]

No, there are no costs associated with participating in the program outside of what schools provide typically as part of their daily operations such as providing spaces for meetings etc.[4]