Teachers in Airdrie's middle schools will soon be getting a new tool to help educate kids on the risks of tobacco products.

The Academy for Tobacco Prevention is a comprehensive and interactive game for students developed by Alberta Health Services (AHS) in partnership with the University of Lethbridge.

Greg Roberts, Director of Learning Supports with Rocky View Schools, said the school board had been exploring it's own tobacco reduction strategies for a number of years.

"Going back 10-15 years when we were looking at crystal meth and really confirming that tobacco is a gateway to other things. We are actually looking at the best time to receive the message about tobacco as a harmful substance, so grades 4 to 6 is actually a very good place to start that conversation."

Roberts said that research shows that there is a declining trend in tobacco use in teens but it still not enough to stop educating kids.

"If we can change behavior before it begins, you know by asking people to think differently about stuff, that's the direction we want to take."

Roberts is really excited to see that partnerships between different ministries are growing, allowing RVS to integrate new strategies within the schools.