UAMS researcher secures $711,000 to tackle rural youth nicotine use

Ashley Clawson, an associate professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, is leading a new initiative to reduce nicotine use among rural students. The project aims to create a coordinated system where schools and families work together to prevent sixth graders from starting nicotine products. The work addresses a specific gap in how prevention programs reach isolated communities.

The National Institutes of Health National Heart Lung and Blood Institute provided $711,000 to fund the research. The pilot phase began in September and will run through May 2029. The money supports the development of a tool designed to overcome the specific barriers that hinder prevention efforts in rural areas. This funding allows for a multi-year engagement with communities across the state.

Clawson, who holds a faculty position in the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, focuses her work on the department of Health Behavior and Health Education. She stated that the study captures the unique experience of rural schools, students, and families. Her goal is to empower parents and provide them with practical tools to prevent their children from using nicotine.

The study targets sixth-grade students attending schools classified as rural by the National Center for Educational Statistics. Investigators will recruit participants from every region of Arkansas. This statewide approach ensures the findings reflect the diverse challenges faced by different rural communities. The researchers will gather data directly from these specific groups.

Clawson noted that previous research identified nicotine use among Arkansas youths as a major issue. She found that school professionals often lack the resources needed to implement evidence-based plans. Meanwhile, data shows that parents, including those who use nicotine themselves, want their children to avoid tobacco products. The study seeks to bridge the gap between these two groups.

The team will ask schools and parents to identify the specific barriers that get in the way of delivering prevention programs. Students will also be asked about the best ways to engage them in these initiatives. The information collected will be used to create strategies that help schools and parents overcome these obstacles and increase student participation.

Clawson is partnering with Stanford University to adapt their existing school-based prevention toolkit. The team will modify this toolkit based on feedback received from Arkansas schools and families. The final product will be a coordinated intervention where schools and parents work together to keep rural middle school students nicotine free.

The project is designed to help students get on a path where they are nicotine free throughout their lives. Clawson stated that this effort aims to prevent the burden of tobacco-caused disease in Arkansas. The long-term hope is to improve the overall health of these students across their lifespan.