Chung-won Lee, PhD Office on Smoking and Health, CDC Luana Ritch, PhD Bureau of Community Health, Nevada State Health Division TM Assessment of Tobacco-Free Policies in Nevada School Districts, 2004 National Conference on Tobacco or Health May, 2005

TM Overview  Background  Study Objectives  Data  Methods  Findings  Summary  Recommendations

TM  The 2003 rescission of a preemptive ban on Nevada ’ s school districts prohibiting smoking policies  Model tobacco-free policies for school districts available  Baseline information needed for policy congruence and disparity Background

TM Background —continued Prevalence of Tobacco Use among Youth*, US & Nevada, 2003 * Grades 9-12 ** Data Source: 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, CDC

TM Background —continued Prevalence of Tobacco Use among Adults, US & Nevada, 2003 * Data Source: 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC

TM Study Objectives  To assess the current status of tobacco-free policies in Nevada’s school districts  To identify areas where Nevada school districts’ tobacco-free policies show challenges

TM Data and Methods  Mail and telephone follow-up survey of Nevada’s 17 school districts (June-August 2004)  SHPPS questionnaire on district level ( –School policy and environment component –custom questions added  Descriptive statistics used for analysis

TM Definition  Tobacco-Free Environment –If the state, district, or school has a policy prohibiting cigarette, cigar, and pipe smoking, and smokeless tobacco use by students, faculty, staff, and visitors –The policy prohibits tobacco use in school buildings, on school grounds, in school buses or other vehicles used to transport students, and at off-campus, school-sponsored events

TM FINDINGS

TM Percent of School Districts with Comprehensive Tobacco-Free Policy: US(2000) vs. Nevada(2004) * All school districts were surveyed. Thus, no error bars.

TM Percent of School Districts with Polices on Students’ Cigarette Use: US(2000) vs. Nevada(2004)

TM Percent of School Districts with Polices on Staff’s Cigarette Use: US(2000) vs. Nevada(2004)

TM Percent of School Districts with Polices on Visitors’ Cigarette Use: US(2000) vs. Nevada(2004)

TM Percent of School Districts with Polices on Cigar/Pipe Use: US(2000) vs. Nevada(2004)

TM Percent of School Districts with Polices on Students’ Smokeless Tobacco Use: US(2000) vs. Nevada(2004)

TM Percent of School Districts with Polices on Staff’s Smokeless Tobacco Use: US(2000) vs. Nevada(2004)

TM Percent of School Districts with Polices on Visitors’ Smokeless Tobacco Use: US(2000) vs. Nevada(2004)

TM Nevada School Districts: Model Tobacco-Free Policies

TM  Most districts have policies in place for cigarette use  For all tobacco products, more policies in place for students than for staff or visitors  High interests by school districts on tobacco-free policies  Areas that need improvement –Policies on cigarette use by staff and visitors –Policies on tobacco use outside school buildings –Policies on cigar/pipe & smokeless tobacco Summary

TM  Develop a plan for technical assistance for school districts –Visibility for tobacco-free policies –Provide model policies for schools and follow-up on implementation –Monitor the progress of tobacco-use policy in school districts over time –Create incentives for school districts –Share lessons learned with stakeholders Recommendations

TM  Nevada — Division of Health Charlene Hearst Richard Whitely — Dept. of Education Mike Fitzgerald — Nevada Association of School Superintendents  CDC — Office on Smoking and Health Deborah Borbely Don Compton Ralph Caraballo — Division of Adolescent and School Health Jane Pritzl Linda Rossett Acknowledgment

Chung-won Lee, PhD Office on Smoking and Health, CDC Luana Ritch, PhD Bureau of Community Health, Nevada State Health Division TM Assessment of Tobacco-Free Policies in Nevada School Districts, 2004 National Conference on Tobacco or Health May, 2005