JUSTB smoke free programme

An evidence-based smoking prevention intervention

Developed and delivered to schools in Wales by Public Health Wales.

This peer-led programme is delivered to peer-identified, influential year 8 (12-13 year olds) pupils in schools in areas where children are at the highest risk of smoking. It equips these young people with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to comfortably discuss the risks of smoking and the benefits of being smoke free amongst their peers, prior to the age of typical smoking initiation.

Why do Public Health Wales deliver JUSTB?

Smoking remains the leading cause of avoidable ill health, early death, and health inequalities in Wales. With most smokers becoming addicted before they reach 18, intervention to prevent young people experimenting and potentially becoming addicted is crucial. In addition, evidence suggests that adolescents who live in areas of deprivation are more likely to smoke at a young age than their more affluent peers and are more likely to be exposed to illegal tobacco which can facilitate underage smoking.

The Welsh Government ‘A Smoke-Free Wales: Our long-term Tobacco Control Strategy for Wales’ sets out its ambition for a smoke-free Wales by 2030, which would mean that less than 5% of the population smoke. Most adult smokers started smoking before the age of 18, highlighting the need to prevent uptake in adolescents where they are at greatest risk of becoming addicted and developing lifelong habits.

Why should schools engage?

JUSTB supports the four purposes of the new curriculum for Wales and schools embedding a whole school approach to health and well-being. Through the delivery of the JUSTB programme by Smoking prevention trainers, the peer ambassadors learn the health, environmental and economic effects of tobacco; gain knowledge of the tobacco industry, tobacco production, advertising, illegal tobacco and the tactics used to recruit young smokers and develop their own views and opinions about tobacco and find information that is interesting and important to them. Ambassadors also develop effective communication skills including listening, observational, cooperation and negotiation and become knowledgeable, skilled and confident to talk to their peers about the harms of smoking and the benefits of being smokefree.

JUSTB contributes to a whole school approach by enabling schools to take action to tackle higher smoking prevalence rates, based on a clear understanding of the needs of their pupils. It then supports the embedding of this through a school-wide ethos and culture of being smokefree. JUSTB is part of and works in partnership with a wider health and wellbeing system for schools which includes the Welsh Network of Healthy Schools Scheme (WNHSS), Help me Quit and the School Health Research Network (SHRN).

How do I access the JUSTB programme for my school?

JUSTB is a targeted programme available to secondary schools in Wales based on 15-16 year old smoking prevalence rates recorded in the current round of the School Health Research Network (SHRN) student health and wellbeing survey.

If you have been invited to participated in JUSTB or would like to have a discussion about your potential eligibility please contact [email protected].