SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 11 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Intervention Programme for Tobacco in Secondary Education (ITESplus), initiated by the General Directorate of Public Health of the Department of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands, has successfully decreased tobacco consumption by 53 percent among young people by the end of their Secondary Education who participated in this initiative carried out in educational institutions in the Canary Islands.
This initiative, in partnership with the Department of Education, Vocational Training, Physical Activity and Sport, is conducted within the school environment across secondary education, with educational institutions in the Canary Islands voluntarily taking part.
In the academic year 2023-2024, a total of 88 educational institutions have partaken in this programme, involving over 16,000 students and 850 educators.
The ITESplus Programme has also decreased the use of electronic devices (e-cigarettes) by more than 45 percent among young individuals, while the most detrimental alcohol intake (excessive drinking) has been cut by 50 percent in both genders.
The overview of these statistics from the programme were presented during the coordination meeting recently conducted by professionals from the Health Promotion Service of the General Directorate of Public Health and the Health Promotion Commission of the Primary Care Management of Tenerife, in which they evaluated the actions regarding the ITESplus programme and the Strategy for Islands and Municipalities Promoting Health.
PREVENTION OF SMOKING AMONG YOUTH
The ITESplus programme, acknowledged by the National Health System as Good Practices, aims to diminish the adverse effects of tobacco and alcohol on health by concentrating on preventing their consumption.
Although the primary focus is on prevention, some students cease the use of both substances after completing the programme, as reported by the Department of Health in a release.
Through interactive workshops, it offers information and aims to alter incorrect values and attitudes towards tobacco and alcohol, fostering the development of skills and abilities to counteract promotional messages and advocate for a life void of these harmful substances, with particular emphasis on modern consumption forms – e-cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, hookahs, and excessive alcohol consumption.
The programme engages with students throughout their secondary education, and the activities are carried out by the teachers themselves, who are beforehand trained for this purpose by the team at the General Directorate of Public Health.
The intervention comprises three interactive workshops for each academic year, tailored to the respective age groups, encompassing informative content, alteration of values and attitudes regarding tobacco and alcohol, and critical examination of their advertisements.
Additionally, it enhances assertive communication skills and resistance to peer pressure. The workshops have been devised by a diverse team consisting of doctors, psychologists, health educators, and educators.
ITESplus was initially implemented in the academic year 2001-2002 in three public institutions on the island of Tenerife, but over the past twenty-three years, other public, state-subsidised, and private institutions across the islands have gradually joined.
