Passage of 100% tobacco-free school policies in 14 North Carolina school districts

Abstract

Though comprehensive tobacco-free school policies constitute an important component of state tobacco control efforts, little research exists about their adoption process. In the past two years, efforts occurred in North Carolina to increase the number of school districts adopting 100% tobacco-free school policies. As part of the North Carolina Youth Empowerment Study (NC-YES), researchers developed a school tobacco policy interview guide to conduct interviews with 40 key people (e.g., school board member, principal, etc.) in each of 14 school districts that adopted a 100% tobacco-free school policy by the end of 2001. Results showed seven districts adopted their school policy in the past two years. Seven themes emerged: 1) Catalysts: Local adult and youth "champions" facilitated policy change; 2) Process of Adoption: Most school policies were adopted with an administrator or other adult initiating the change, but youth involvement increased in recent years; 3) Methods of Adoption: Advocates personalized health concerns by focusing on children and role modeling by adults; 4) Political Leadership: Governors of North Carolina, through letters to school districts and a policy summit, played an important role in stimulating policy change; 5) Barriers to Adoption: Concerns expressed before policy adoption, about teacher attrition or inability to enforce the policy, did not occur as feared; 6) Enforcement Issues: A key to policy enforcement involved being consistent, supportive, and firm; and 7) Economics of Tobacco Farming/Manufacturing: Though a local tobacco economy did little to influence policy adoption, districts that adopted policies were not located in counties with heavy tobacco production. Public health advocates may use this information to encourage school districts to adopt 100% tobacco-free school policies.