Tobacco & E-Cigarette

Tobacco-Use Prevention Education

San Diego Unified School District has a tobacco-free school policy in place.  This policy prohibits all tobacco and e-cigarette use by students, staff, and visitors at all times everywhere on campus, including school events after regular school hours and during off-site school activities.  This policy also prohibits students, staff, and visitors from bringing tobacco products to school, as well as prohibits students from bringing tobacco products to off-site school activities.

We have put this policy in place for three main reasons:

• HELP STUDENTS BE TOBACCO-FREE: Youth spend a great deal of their time at school and school events. Keeping tobacco and e-cigarettes off campus means students don’t see their friends and adults using tobacco, which helps make tobacco use less socially acceptable. 

• PROVIDE A HEALTHY AND POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT: Breathing secondhand smoke can make others sick.  It can trigger an asthma attack or worsen breathing problems.  Staff and visitors smoking on campus or at school events place others at risk.  We want to keep our schools healthy for everyone.  Additionally, tobacco-free schools create the best social and learning environment for youth.  Tobacco use at school distracts from learning and is linked to school failure and truancy. 

• COMPLY WITH FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATIONS: Federal and state law prohibit smoking in elementary and secondary schools.  Additionally, state law directs school boards to prohibit “the use, possession and distribution of tobacco products, e-cigarettes and nicotine liquid containers … in school buildings, on school premises and by students at school-sponsored activities away from school grounds.” 

Tobacco-free schools provide positive role modeling for students.  Schools are a place where children develop lifelong behaviors, and we are committed to ensuring smoking, chewing tobacco and e-cigarettes are not one of these behaviors. 

We have placed signs about the policy on all school campuses.  We will also make announcements at school events to remind people that tobacco and e-cigarette use is not allowed at these events or on school property. 

We appreciate your help in supporting this policy.