Jump to full article: icWales, 2008-05-09
Author: Madeleine Brindley, South Wales Echo
Intro: POPULAR school students are spreading the message that smoking isn't cool as part of a unique Cardiff scheme.
Research has found that the A Stop Smoking In Schools Trial programme or "Assist", developed by Cardiff University, could prevent more than 40,000 children from smoking every year.
The programme works by using peer pressure to persuade young teenagers not to become smokers.
Pupils aged 12 and 13 are asked to nominate the people in their year group who they respect and look up to, who are then trained as peer supporters.
They in turn talk to other children their age about the benefits of not smoking.
Professor Laurence Moore, director of the Cardiff Institute of Society, Health & Ethics, which developed the Assist programme, said: "A lot of time and effort goes into encouraging children not to take up regular smoking in schools but that generally hasn't been found to be particularly effective as often kids will do the opposite of what their teachers tell them.
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