It is back-to-school season, which is a great time to reflect on your current district/school policies and evaluate if there is a need to update them. The Tobacco Section at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) encourages districts and schools to take time to review their current tobacco-free policies (which includes electronic nicotine delivery systems or e-cigarettes). There are some key components that are recommended to ensure your district and K-12 schools have a strong tobacco-free policy.
The first component of a strong tobacco-free policy is prohibiting the use of all commercial tobacco and nicotine products and prohibiting possession by youth. This comprehensively includes all products, like cigarettes, e-cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, cigars, pipe tobacco, hookah, cigarillos, and other non-tobacco nicotine products like those containing synthetic nicotine, and nicotine analogs. Another key component is prohibiting the use of all commercial tobacco products by everyone, including, but not limited to students, visitors, parents, staff, educators, and community members. Tobacco-free policies need to prohibit commercial tobacco products, at all times. It is recommended that prohibitions on these products extend to all on- and off-campus district/school sponsored events, including inside all school buildings, district owned property (including parking lots), and in school vehicles. Additionally, it is recommended that district policies prohibit both the promotion and sales of any commercial tobacco product and any donations, sponsorship, or curricula from tobacco or vaping industries.
There are some recommended important policy clarifications and exemptions. The first exemption is allowing usage of nicotine-replacement therapy (NRT) approved by the Food and Drug Administration. For youth, NRT is prescribed by a certified health care provider and no e-cigarette, vape, or electronic nicotine delivery system or ENDS has been approved for tobacco dependence treatment. The other strongly encouraged exemption is recognizing usage of traditional tobacco by American Indians and Alaskan Natives for sacred and ceremonial purposes.
Additionally, a strong policy requires certain components to address prevention and implement sustainable strategies for educators, students and administrators. Prevention education is an important strategy and most effective in youth grades prior to middle school. This strategy should include education on “how to say no” and is best received by youth through peer-to-peer education. Another recommendation is providing notification about and training on your updated policy to staff and the surrounding community. Finally, a critical recommendation for tobacco-free policy is providing quit resources for both staff and students and integrating alternative to suspension programming. The Tobacco Section recommends the free quit program, My Life My QuitTM for youth and the Michigan Tobacco Quitlink for adults. These programs are confidential and can be used as alternatives to suspension programming. Another evidence-based alternative to a suspension program is the American Lung Association’s Intervention for Nicotine Dependence: Education, Prevention, Tobacco and Health (INDEPTH) program. Please visit these resources at:
- The Michigan Quitlink
- My Life My Quit
- INDEPTH: An Alternative to Teen Nicotine Suspension or Citation | American Lung Association
Finally, to increase awareness among the community and encourage compliance, it is recommended to have visible signage around district grounds and high trafficked areas. Some of these areas should include hot spots or common places for tobacco use. It is strongly encouraged that verbiage on the signage supports the tobacco-free policy. Specifically, always supporting the prohibition of using all commercial tobacco and nicotine products and by all individuals/community members who visit the district owned premise. Signage should also be visible to visitors entering district and K-12 school buildings. Displaying signage increases the likelihood of protecting others from second and third hand smoke and aerosol exposure and keeps district campuses healthy and clean.