Developed a smoking deterrence strategy within a social-learning and persuasive-communication framework consisting principally of a series of films. In the films, detailed techniques for coping with social influences on smoking are depicted. Dependent measures of knowledge gained from the films, of intentions to smoke, and of smoking behavior utilizing a novel nicotine-in-saliva analysis were administered. Students in 13 junior high schools were assigned to 3 experimental and 4 control groups. Seventh- through 9th-grade smoking deterrence interventions and dependent measures were administered in the experimental schools, and the dependent measures only were administered in the control schools. At the end of the 8th and 9th grades, analyses of the data reveal that experimental Ss smoked less frequently and intended to smoke less frequently than did controls and that knowledge generated by the films was significantly related to smoking intention and behavior.