The momentum continues! On February 15th, Central Consolidated Schools became the third district in New Mexico to adopt a 100% comprehensive tobacco-free policy, followed by Las Cruces Public School District on February 20th!

Thank you to the districts, the school boards, and Evolvement youth Thomas Hosteen, and Chriss and Allyssa Wright, for coming together to ensure the healthiest educational environment for students, staff, and visitors attending classes and activities sponsored by Central Consolidated Schools and Las Cruces Public Schools. “I am proud that the school board has listened, and students will have a healthier learning environment now that Central Consolidated has become the third district in the state to have a truly tobacco-free policy,” says Newcomb High School Evolvement youth Thomas Hosteen.

“Sometimes when you are around people- you want to be more like them – so if we see tobacco being used after school and at school events, it makes us think that the use of tobacco is okay,” says Las Cruces Evolvement youth Allyssa Wright. Removing tobacco’s influence from the educational environment sends the message that tobacco is not part of a bright, educated future.

“We are so proud that Las Cruces will officially be the fourth district in all of New Mexico have a 100% tobacco-free school policy,” says Las Cruces Evolvement youth Chriss Wright. The Wright sisters, Hosteen, and other youth working on this effort are members of the Department of Health’s statewide youth movement called Evolvement, which works on health campaigns including 24/7.

These votes come just two months after Roswell Independent School District, in partnership with the 24/7 campaign, adopted the first tobacco-free district policy meeting the Department of Health’s comprehensive standard on December 12^th. Pecos Independent School District followed by adopting similar policies in January. The NMDOH is inspired by the work of these forward-thinking districts, and hopes they will serve as a model to all districts statewide.

“We are thrilled that Las Cruces has prioritized the health of students, staff, and visitors to their school by adopting this 100% tobacco-free policy,” says Benjamin Jacquez, TUPAC Program Manager. “Las Cruces joins Roswell, Pecos, and Central Consolidated schools as a model to other New Mexico School districts as we partner with them through the 24/7 campaign to implement similar measures.”

 

 

Under a truly comprehensive policy, tobacco use, possession, and distribution is prohibited:

• by anyone
• anywhere
• at anytime
• 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Click here to learn more about the resources available to you from the 24/7 campaign once you update your district’s policy.

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2. The Momentum Continues! Las Cruces and Central Consolidated Become 100% Tobacco Free