School Policy on Tobacco Use
The significance of tobacco policy is often underrated because tobacco use is perceived as the lesser of all adolescent evils. However, research shows that the use of tobacco products is associated with an increased use of alcohol and other drugs, sexual activity, fighting, and low academic performance.* Although tobacco use is not the cause of these risky behaviors, tobacco use is believed to be a gateway to them. Reducing the acceptance of tobacco use on school campuses (and within our society as a whole) will go far to reduce or delay the choice for young people to use tobacco products.
While there are federal, state and local laws that prohibit the use of tobacco on school grounds, and while all school districts are therefore required to have a policy on tobacco, the latest assessment by the New York State Education Department reveals that most schools within the state are woefully inadequate in this area.
Effective tobacco policies are ones that are created by representatives of the entire school community including: administration, faculty, parents, students, health professionals and school boards. This collaboration can produce a clear statement of the goal of the policy and would delineate the following provisions:
- Prohibit tobacco use by anyone on school grounds, including staff, parents and visitors. This prohibition would extend to staff vehicles, sporting events and all school functions.
- Provide that adequate signage be displayed which informs staff, students and visitors of the policy.
- Prohibit tobacco advertising including the sponsorship of school events or in apparel such as hats and t-shirts.
- Provide for comprehensive health education including tobacco as part of an overall policy that seeks to promote good health.
- Provide for smoking cessation programs to students, staff and parents. Effective policies also offer pre-cessation or alternative-to-suspension programs so that rather than a violation being met with a disciplinary action, it becomes an opportunity for an educational intervention to promote health. Most importantly, consequences for violations must be made known and enforced consistently.
- Provide for the periodic review of the policy.
As part of the School Health Education Initiative, Eastern Suffolk BOCES will provide technical assistance to school districts that wish to examine and strengthen their existing policies. All consultations, training and materials will be offered free of charge. For further information, please contact Martha Kahan.
* Schoenborn C. Study of 10,645 youth, ages 12-20, for the National Center for Health Statistics. April, 1995.
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