31st Annual Great American Smokeout - November 15, 2007

Tobacco-free environment laws are sweeping the nation. The rising public support for clean indoor air makes the 31st annual Great American Smokeout, on November 15 a perfect day to update tobacco-free schools policies. While the Smokeout is intended to get smokers to quit for a day, taking the first step toward quitting all together, it could serve as a catalyst for school policymakers to broaden the scope of their tobacco-free schools policies.

According to the School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS 2006) recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), just 38 percent of states, 55.4 percent of school districts, and 63.6 percent of schools prohibit all tobacco use in all locations. While many assume that tobacco use is prohibited by the Pro-Children Act of 1994 (now a part of the No Child Left Behind Act), that law does not mandate completely tobacco-free school environments. It applies only to indoor facilities that are used by children, so does not include staff lounges, school vehicles, or outdoor areas.  Furthermore, it applies only to tobacco products that are smoked.  Nationally, 13.6 percent of high school boys and 2.2 percent of high school girls use spit tobacco, according to the most recent available data from the CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS).

If your district or school has not recently examined and updated its school tobacco policy to reflect the 100-percent tobacco-free school guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Great American Smokeout is the perfect opportunity to begin the process.  The CDC’s School Health Index is an assessment and planning tool that can help school communities determine gaps in policy and practice and set priorities for change.

The Great American Smokeout began in 1976 when the California division of the American Cancer Society successfully prompted nearly one million smokers to quit for the day.  American Cancer Society offers a list of cessation resources and information to help tobacco users quit. The American Cancer Society Quitline services are available in some states, and offer free telephone counseling, advice, and materials for smokers trying to quit. For more information on quitting smoking, call 1-800-ACS-2345 24-hours a day, or contact the American Cancer Society at:

American Cancer Society
2970 Clairmont Road, NE
Suite 840
Atlanta, GA 30329
1-800-ACS-2345
http://www.cancer.org/

For more information on tobacco use prevention through schools, visit NSBA’s School Health Programs website.  A “101” packet is available and you can search the online NSBA School Health Resource Database for more background information, sample policies, and web links to helpful resources.