NSTEP®

NSTEP®’s mission is to prevent people, especially young people, from starting to use smokeless (or spit) tobacco, and to help all users quit.

A message from John Danks about Tobacco Cessation

NSTEP was founded in 1994 as an effort to educate the baseball family and the American public about the dangers of smokeless tobacco, and break the long-standing link between this potentially deadly drug and America’s pastime. Each year, anywhere from 10 to 16 million Americans put their health at risk by using spit tobacco products. Read more about the NSTEP history by Clicking Here.

Throughout the year, NSTEP raises awareness with families about the risks of smokeless tobacco use via in-school presentations from NSTEP-affiliates speakers including Gruen Von Behrens. OHA sells approximately 40,000 NSTEP educational materials annually to schools and health departments across the country.

NSTEP Slogan Contest

Now in its tenth year of a partnership with Little League, NSTEP sponsors a slogan contest for all Little League players, annually reaching over 16 million children and families with tobacco avoidance messages. The 2011 winner was Louie Lafakis from Basking Ridge, NJ, who coined the phrase: “Make a great play … throw tobacco away!” Louie won a trip to Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA along with a cash prize and donation to his Little League organization. Up to 350,000 Little League players and their families visit our booth at the Little League World Series each August, where they receive oral health and tobacco education from OHA and our 2010 Sponsor, Delta Dental of California.

The Annual NSTEP Slogan Contest kicked off April 1, 2011. If you are a baseball player and on the roster for the 2011 Little League season, enter the slogan contest to win an all expenses paid trip to Little League World Series among other prizes!

Slogan Contest Rules and Entry Form

NSTEP in the News

News: Oral Health America’s NSTEP program supports the Tobacco Free Kids campaign to “Knock Tobacco out of the Park”. In a recent letter from Bud Selig, Commissioner of Baseball, to Tobacco Free Kids, Mr. Selig mentioned the NSTEP program in the fight against spit tobacco use. Read the full letter by Clicking Here.

News: NSTEP and White Sox Pitcher John Danks Team Up on PSA!

News: Eli Kruse of Woodstock, IL, Wins NSTEP Slogan Contest