What is a Tobacco-Free School?

Tobacco is the leading cause of death and disease in America (CDC). A Tobacco-Free School Environment is one part of a comprehensive community plan for tobacco-prevention. Creating a healthy school environment aids in students achieving academic success. We are striving towards creating happier and healthier Wyoming youth.

 

Tobacco Free Schools Criteria

  1.       School has a policy prohibiting alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use by students, all school staff, parents, visitors, and everyone on all school property, in school vehicles, and at school-sponsored functions away from school property.

2.       Schools enforce the policy prohibiting alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use by students, all school staff, parents, visitors, and everyone on all school property, in school vehicles, and at school-sponsored functions away from school property.

3.       Students and staff who use tobacco are provided the opportunity to participate in the Wyoming Quit Tobacco Program to help them quit tobacco.

 

Why the Emphasis on Tobacco?

The best policies are comprehensive and include all alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.  Historically, prevention, intervention, and treatment operated in silos surrounding specific drugs.  This way of thinking is 'old school'.  Schools in general have strict guidlines when it comes to alcohol and other illegal substances.  Unfortunately, many schools do not have a policy for tobacco or do not enforce a current policy.