2009 Great American Smokeout

October 29, 2009 -- One of the best ways to keep teens from smoking is to make sure that their schools are 100% tobacco-free, and that school policies around the country are demanding it. How does your school’s policy measure up? The Great American Smokeout on November 19 marks a perfect opportunity to find out.  On a day when smokers across the country are laying down their lighters, take a look at what your school is doing to keep teens from picking them up.  For more information on comprehensive tobacco-free schools, visit the website of NSBA’s National Consortium on Tobacco Use Prevention through Schools.

Earlier this month, the Institute of Medicine released a report lending an added urgency to tobacco use cessation in people of all ages.  Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, and smoking is the leading cause of heart disease.  Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Cardiovascular Effects: Making Sense of the Evidence explains the link between secondhand smoke and heart disease among both men and women, meaning that even those who do not smoke themselves are put at risk by the tobacco use of those around them.  Additionally, each of the eleven studies analyzed in this report shows an association between smoking bans and lower rates of heart attack, showing a decrease ranging from 6% to 47%.  Given this information, the need for 100% tobacco-free schools is even more apparent, for the health and safety of students, teachers and staff.

In other tobacco news, the recently released 2008 Annual Synar Report on Youth Tobacco Sales, reports that 46 states show retailer violation rates (meaning sales to those under 18) below 15 percent, demonstrating a clear downward trend.  This report is based on The Synar Amendment of 1992 which aims to reduce youth tobacco sales by requiring states to implement laws targeting the sale of tobacco products to those under the age of 18.  While this is great news, the study also notes that targeting youth tobacco use prevention must be a coordinated, comprehensive approach between state legislation, community action, and prevention programming.

Additionally, as the FDA transitions into its new role in tobacco regulation, one of its first steps has been to enact a ban on mint, candy and fruit flavored cigarettes, products that appeal particularly to youth and can rope young people into lifelong nicotine addiction.  This decision was specifically made to address tobacco use by those under 18, and a similar ban is being considered with regard to both menthol flavored cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products, including spit tobacco.

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. The American Cancer Society offers a list of cessation resources and information to help tobacco users quit as well as ideas for school implementation. 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, or email schoolhealth@nsba.org. A "Tobacco Prevention 101" packet of resources is available, and the NSBA online database also provides background information, sample policies, and web links to helpful resources.