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Tobacco-Free Schools
On
Thursday, June 28th, 2007, the North Carolina General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a bill requiring all school systems in
the state to become 100% tobacco-free. Though the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education had
passed their own tobacco-free policy just days before, the new state law will replace their policy.
The policy adopted by the school board allowed an exemption for school property where students are not present. With the new
state law, even the areas around the administration building and maintenance garages will become 100% smoke-free.
A 100% Tobacco-Free School policy prohibits all tobacco use anytime, anywhere, by anyone, on all school property and at all
school-sponsored events. Over ¾ of all school districts in North Carolina were already 100% tobacco free.
Why is tobacco-free important?
- Provides positive adult role models for students.
- Discourages drug use. FDA has classified nicotine as a drug.
- Eliminates exposure to second hand smoke.
- Reduces absenteeism. Secondhand smoke makes asthma worse, leading to many more school absences.
- Youth in North Carolina who attend school with a 100% Tobacco-Free School Policy are 40% less likely to smoke! (Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch, 2006)