TOBACCO-FREE SCHOOL POLICIES

During the facilitator's training, we take a few minutes to discuss tobacco-free school policies. You will be asked to brainstorm for a list of why schools need a tobacco-free policy. You will also be given a sample of a school policy and other materials to support such a policy. Details

A strong tobacco-free school policy is a major factor in the prevention of tobacco use by adolescents. It will:

• Apply to everyone in the school - faculty, administrators, and guests alike;
• Encourage adult role modeling of nonsmoking behavior; and
• Create a positive and protective environment in which youth can become (or remain) tobacco free.

By implementing a tobacco-free school policy, your school can put into practice what students are learning in the ASCENT program. For more information about ASCENT, click here. For any cessation curriculum to be effective, the school environment should support what is being taught. Providing a tobacco-free environment supports the student's decision to become smoke-free.

On the flip side, a school that implements a tobacco-free policy should provide access to programs to support students who choose to quit. Students should be offered access to cessation programs to help them stop using tobacco, rather than punishing them for violating tobacco use policies. We think that a teen smoking cessation program, like ASCENT, should be included in any comprehensive school tobacco prevention program.

A school policy against tobacco use should be enforced by the Principal and supported by the staff, parents, and community. For information on how to implement a tobacco-free policy in your school, go to: www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/guidelines/nutptua.htm.