Welcome to our online chat on tobacco. Thanks for asking a question. Many people think that all schools are completely tobacco free, and are surprised to find that is not the case. The Delegate Assembly decided to encourage local school boards to support tobacco use prevention, as it is the leading cause of preventable death in the US. Tobacco-free school policies can contribute significantly to preventing young people from starting to use tobacco products.

Perhaps surprisingly, all schools are not completely tobacco free. Many people don%u2019t realize that the federal Pro Children Act of 1990 does not mandate completely tobacco free school environments. It applies only to federally funded, indoor facilities that are used by children %u2013 not outdoor areas at a school, or staff lounges. It also applies only to tobacco products that are smoked, not to spit tobacco or other products creatively marketed by the tobacco industry.

Many people are surprised to know that tobacco use is still the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. Approximately 400, 000 die from the effects of tobacco use each year, not counting the additional 25,000-75,000 who die each year from exposure to secondhand smoke. Tobacco use kills more people each year than alcohol, illegal drugs, homicides, and suicides combined. The tobacco industry needs to replace the smokers who die or quit each year. To this end, they spend billions marketing to kids. More than 4,000 kids under the age of 18 try tobacco every day, and 1,100 of those become regular smokers. Many young people don%u2019t realize that spit tobacco is also addictive and causes cancer. This problem is far from solved.

To be completely tobacco free, no tobacco use of any kind can be used at any time by anyone on school property. Adults are important role models for children and youth. Surveys indicate that kids are well aware of which teachers and coaches use tobacco. Allowing these role models to use tobacco on school property gives an implicit endorsement of tobacco use, in addition to sending a "do as I say, not as I do" message to kids. One strategy employed by the tobacco industry to promote smoking among youth is to present it as "an adult custom." Naturally, children of all ages aspire to take on adult customs as signs of maturity. Allowing adult tobacco use on school property plays into this tobacco industry strategy. In addition, about 14 percent of boys use spit tobacco. While harder to detect than smoked tobacco, spit tobacco is also addictive and can be just as lethal.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention%u2019s Division of Adolescent and School Health set out guidelines in 1994 for comprehensive tobacco-free schools policies. The guidelines recommend that a tobacco-free environment exists if the state, school district, or school has a policy prohibiting cigarette, cigar and pipe smoking and spit tobacco use by students, faculty, staff and visitors at all times in school buildings, on school grounds, in school buses or other vehicles used to transport students, and at off campus, school-sponsored events. Many state school boards associations offer model tobacco use prevention policies. Ask your state association if they have a model policy, and if it aligns with CDC recommendations. Also, the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) has a newly revised Tobacco chapter featuring model tobacco free schools policies in its publication, Fit, Healthy, and Ready to Learn. Contact NSBA%u2019s School Health Programs for additional technical assistance on tobacco use prevention policies, at schoolhealth@nsba.org.

The 2008 Delegate Assembly approved a policy encouraging local school boards to adopt comprehensive tobacco free schools policies. Our School Health Programs department can provide information, tools and technical assistance to local school boards on policy development and make sure that school boards contact their respective state associations for state-specific assistance. Moreover, NSBA staff can put districts in touch with state education agency and health departments that can be of assistance. In addition, at the national level, NSBA is working with multiple organizations that have state affiliates working towards tobacco free schools. Contact School Health Programs for more information at schoolhealth@nsba.org.

This may be an opportunity for the school dist5rict to partner with its families, community agencies, and community based organizations to determine what is needed locally. If state law does not prohibit going beyond existing legislation, then these entities could work together to tackle this issue in a constructive way. In this way, the local school district could make sure that the consequences of youth possession would not be punitive and result in kids being out of school, which would be detrimental to their academic and physical well-being. Rather, the consequences could be educational and motivational, such as researching the health effects of tobacco use or volunteering at a hospital or hospice. Consider contacting your state school boards association and/or your state education agency to find out which districts in Colorado may have already taken this step.

Certainly, there is a shared responsibility to help young people be healthy, but there are reasons and ways for schools to contribute. Importantly, student health and student achievement are closely linked. Healthy students learn better. Students who miss school from an asthma episode (asthma is the leading cause of school absences, and can be triggered by secondhand smoke)or because they have been caught using tobacco are at a significant disadvantage. Schools with comprehensive tobacco free schools policies, and schools that address tobacco use violations with non-punitive measures (such as assigning research on the effects of tobacco use or requiring students to participate in a tobacco cessation program instead of suspending a student for using tobacco) can help kids to stay in school and stay healthy.

While 23 states have passed Clean Indoor Air laws, the laws may not address school tobacco policies directly. Check your school tobacco policy against any statewide law to see that they align and are consistent with CDC recommendations. In addition, make sure your school or district tobacco policy includes provisions regarding spit tobacco, which is not covered by clean indoor air laws. As with any policy, having a system that monitors implementation and the effectiveness of the policy is essential to ensure that the goal of comprehensive tobacco free schools is achieved.

Studies have found that schools with consistently enforced no-tobacco-use policies are more likely to have lower rates of student smoking than comparable schools without such policies. A tobacco-free school policy is the cornerstone of a comprehensive school based tobacco use prevention program.

Adults are important role models for children and youth. Surveys indicate that kids are well aware of which teachers and coaches use tobacco. Allowing these role models to use tobacco on school property gives an implicit endorsement of tobacco use, in addition to sending a "do as I say, not as I do" message to kids. It clearly conflicts with tobacco use prevention messages taught in health education and other instructional programs. One strategy employed by the tobacco industry to promote smoking among youth is to present it as "an adult custom." Naturally, children of all ages aspire to take on adult customs as signs of maturity. Allowing adult tobacco use on school property plays into this tobacco industry strategy.

Check with your state school boards association to see if they have a policy services division that can provide a model tobacco policy for your district or school. In addition, you can contact NSBA School Health Programs for information on their Tobacco Use Prevention Project, at 703-535-1618 or SchoolHealth@nsba.org. The CDC guidelines on tobacco use prevention through schools are available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00026213.htm.