Common Questions and Answers
About the Program
History
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company holds as one of its guiding principles and beliefs that minors should never use tobacco products. As part of its efforts to prevent tobacco use among minors, the company has funded youth tobacco prevention programs which address three key audiences:
- Educators of students in grades 5-9, (the ages during which experimentation begins for many behaviors, including tobacco use) to provide tools to help persuade youth to be tobacco free.
- Parents and Grandparents, to help them communicate a youth tobacco prevention message to their children/grandchildren; and
- Retailers, to help them comply with minimum-age laws.
The first two of these are included in a program called Right Decisions, Right Now.
The program, funded by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, was first developed in 1991 by Lifetime Learning Systems Inc. It has been updated several times since it was created. The Right Decisions, Right Now program was created more than six years before the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) between major U.S. tobacco companies and 46 states. It continues today as part of R.J. Reynolds’ efforts to comply with the MSA. All program materials are provided free of charge to educators, parents and guardians and others interested in reducing tobacco use.
What is Be Tobacco Free?
Right Decisions, Right Now: Be Tobacco Free is an evidence-based educational program designed to prevent young people in grades 5 – 9 from using tobacco in any form, including cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.
The Right Decisions, Right Now: Be Tobacco Free program was tested nationally and was found to be successful on two key measures: (1) recent smoking levels decreased significantly in test schools, particularly for grades 8-9, and (2) the program lowered anticipated tobacco use among middle school-aged students. In addition, students’ susceptibility to peer pressure and their perception of the popularity of tobacco-using peers both showed significant declines versus control groups.
Who Developed the Program?
The Right Decisions, Right Now youth tobacco prevention program is sponsored by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Since 1991, the Right Decisions, Right Now youth tobacco prevention program has offered materials to middle and junior high schools to address the important issue of making good decisions, even if peer pressure and example might suggest a different decision. The program is designed to help students in grades five through nine develop the capacity to make the decisions that are right for them — including the decision not to smoke.
Order a Be Tobacco Free Kit Free of Charge
Please submit requests for quantities larger than 1 in writing to:
Right Decisions, Right Now
P.O. Box 2959
Winston-Salem, NC 27102
Who Funded the Program?
The Right Decisions, Right Now youth tobacco prevention program is sponsored by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.