Program History

Since 2001, the Tobacco Control Program of the New York State Department of Health seeks to:

• Prevent initiation of tobacco use, reduce current use of tobacco products through promotion of cessation

• Reduce the social acceptability of tobacco use

• Eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke

The Tobacco Control Program funds 142 partners in five modalities across the state. The Tobacco-Free Healthy Schools Modality began April 2006. The program promotes and supports tobacco free schools to establish a comprehensive policy.

A comprehensive Tobacco-Free Policy supplements the existing laws regarding tobacco in schools. There is a substantial impact on schools with a comprehensive tobacco-free policy:

• Developing and enforcing a tobacco-free policy is recommended by the Center for Disease Control as the #1 strategy to prevent tobacco use and addiction.

• Research shows that the use of tobacco products is correlated to an increase in the use of alcohol and other drugs, sexual activity, fighting and lower academic performance.

• Research also demonstrates that anti-smoking curriculum alone does not make a difference in reducing teen smoking rates. Classroom messages are supported by tobacco-free policies, positive role models, cessation support, and community involvement.

• Schools are in a powerful position to prevent youth from smoking and to help those that already use tobacco to quit.  They play a key role in creating attitude and behavioral change among students, their families and the community.  A tobacco free environment contributes significantly to preventing first use of tobacco or interrupting habituated use among youth.

Your school will be recognized within your community and statewide. (Grant dollars to support this initiative through trainings, materials, and personal assistance is available during this time.)