The Project EX program contains eight sessions, each about 45-minutes in length. The sessions are designed to be delivered over a 6-week period, according to the following implementation schedule: two sessions a week for 2 weeks, followed by one session a week for 4 weeks.
During the first four sessions, students are not asked or required to quit immediately, but are strengthened for their attempt to quit, which occurs between sessions 4 and 6. The last four sessions are held once a week and concentrate on helping students enhance and maintain their quit attempt.
The program should be implemented by highly motivated health educators or teachers. The Project EX teacher’s manual (curriculum) and student guidebook should be followed closely, and all eight sessions should be delivered.
A number of strategies may be used to recruit students to Project EX programming. A program facilitator can visit classrooms to make a short presentation about the forthcoming groups, the school may offer elective class credits and class release time, and/or referrals may be made by staff or students themselves. Each Project EX group can contain 8 to 30 students.
To be eligible for the Project EX program, the student must have used a nicotine-containing product in the 30 days prior to the first session, and must join the group on or before the fourth session.