KKU Trains Core Student Leaders in Drug Prevention, Organises Workshop on Counselling Skills for Smoking Cessation

6 February 2026
17:21

Khon Kaen University (KKU) continues to advance its Healthy Organisation policy by hosting the training activity, “Counselling for Smoking Reduction and Cessation for Core Student Leaders (Training for the Trainer), and Smoking Cessation Clinic.” This activity was conducted under the project aimed at building immunity and preventing drug abuse within the university community. The training took place from 31 January to 1 February 2026 at Meeting Room 2, 2nd Floor, Student Activity Organisation Building, Khon Kaen University.

The primary objective of the training was to equip core student leaders with knowledge of nicotine addiction mechanisms, alongside effective communication and counselling skills to motivate smoking reduction and cessation. This preparation enables student leaders to design peer-based activities and provide initial counselling support within their respective faculties.

Why ‘Training for the Trainer’? Because ‘Peers’ are Best Positioned to Understand One Another

The workshop featured expert speakers from the Faculty of Nursing, Khon Kaen University, including:

Associate Professor Netchanok Kaewchantha, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor Chompunut Chanama
Ajarn Nichyakul Khanbutsri

The programme was structured not merely as a lecture but as a hands-on workshop emphasising active participation and genuine understanding:

Mindset & Communication: Participants learned communication techniques to understand the motivation behind tobacco use and the application of the Cognitive Model for behaviour modification.

Practical Skills: Students practised counselling skills to correctly help peers reduce or cease smoking, including self-reflection and mental well-being check-ins.

Creative Campaign: A specific activity, “KKU Eggs: Away from Cigarettes (and Vapour),” required students from each faculty to collaborate on designing creative campaigns they could genuinely implement to support their peers.

This training represents a significant step in strengthening a student-led network for smoking prevention, fostering a smoke-free university environment and promoting sustainable health and well-being across the Khon Kaen University community.