• Youth cigarette smoking is at a historic low in New Mexico (11.4%), comparable to the national youth smoking rate (10.8%).
• Reducing smoking among youth is important because it is the leading cause of preventable death, and 90% of adult smokers start before age 18.
• The total number of youth trained in FY17 was 356, and the target for FY18 is 350 youth.
• Progress in Q2 included training 208 youth in nine high schools, more than half of the target of 350 youth trained for the fiscal year.
  
• Significant progress in training youth was achieved in Q2 because of the success in implementing 13 events in schools and communities that directly supported the 24/7 (tobacco-free schools) and No Minor Sale campaigns. During Q2, two youth spearheaded the adoption of New Mexico’s first 100% comprehensive tobacco-free (24/7) school district policy within the Roswell Independent School District.
• There are ongoing efforts to recruit several additional high schools from under-represented parts of the state, which will allow for more youth to be engaged and trained in the Evolvement program. Several other school districts are making progress in adopting their own comprehensive tobacco-free school district policies.

• Rescue (The Behavior Change Agency)
• New Mexico School Districts
• New Mexico Public Education Department
• Community-based Organizations
• New Mexico Department of Health – Health promotion teams

The Guide to Community Preventive Services recommends the following interventions to reduce adolescent smoking:

• Increasing the unit price of tobacco products.
• Mass media campaigns in combination with other interventions (e.g., youth engagement).
• Smoking bans and restrictions.
• Restricting minors' access to tobacco products through community mobilization with additional interventions.

• The program will implement a statewide youth engagement strategy (Evolvement), in combination with specific tobacco counter-marketing campaigns targeting high school youth.
• Youth leaders statewide will be trained on tobacco control efforts, develop tobacco control projects within their schools and communities, and assist in the development of culturally-appropriate campaigns that will reach their peers.

• Q1: Plan and recruit schools and youth into the Evolvement youth engagement program. Completed.
• Q2: Training 75 youth leaders. 208 youth trained. Exceeded.
• Q3: Training 75 youth leaders. 
• Q4: Train 150 youth leaders.