[Evaluation of the efficacy of a school-based program to prevent tobacco smoking among adolescents in Lombardy (Italy)].

The program "Free to choose" was a school-based program aimed at encouraging secondary school students to lead healthy lifestyles and free from tobacco smoke. The project was part of a wider project named "Free from tobacco smoke", implemented in kindergarten, elementary and secondary schools in Lombardy (Italy). The "Free to choose" program was a controlled, non randomized study involving 2,145 subjects aged 16 years, of whom 1,063 participated in the activities laid out by the program (treatment group) and 1,082 only completed the questionnaires (control group). The program did not achieve the aim of reducing the number of subjects who start smoking. However, an increased awareness of the risks of smoking was observed among "treated" subjects as well as an increased number of non smokers who intend to refuse a cigarette if they were offered one.