Smoking and COVID-19
Smoking tobacco may increase the risk of serious complications from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Now is a good time to quit for keeps. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or enroll online for free help.
South Carolina state law requires all public school districts to adopt, implement, and enforce a written tobacco-free schools policy that includes e-cigarettes and vaping devices. All state requirements regarding youth and commercial tobacco products can be found here:
- Youth Access to Tobacco Prevention Act of 2006 Amendment Summary - (DOCX)
- Youth Access to Tobacco Prevention Act of 2006 Full Text
Tobacco-free schools are a proven way to prevent youth tobacco use. Protecting youth, school staff, and visitors from exposure to secondhand smoke and vaping aerosol creates healthy environments for everyone. Keys to a successful and effective tobacco-free school policy include clear communication, periodic policy review and updates, and non-punitive enforcement. The Division of Tobacco Prevention and Control provides a number of resources to help school districts implement a comprehensive tobacco-free policy that is compliant with state requirements. These resources can be used to:
- Review and strengthen current tobacco-free school policy
- Implement and enforce a tobacco-free school policy
- Communicate tobacco-free school policy to staff, students, and the public
- Promote free quit support for youth and adults
- Incorporate evidence-based youth tobacco prevention education in the classroom
- Utilize alternatives to suspension for students violating the tobacco-free school policy
Resources for Schools
Implement and maintain tobacco-free school policy
Strengthen current policy
- 100% Comprehensive Tobacco-Free Schools Model Policy
- Tobacco Industry Sponsored Youth Prevention is Ineffective
- Alternatives to Suspension
- E-Cigarette/Vaping Prevention: Tools for Schools toolkit
Communication Tools
- Tobacco-Free Schools Sample Policy One-Page (announcement)
- Sample sign (campus and building)
Tobacco Prevention Toolkits, Curricula, Alternatives to Suspension, and Other Classroom Tools/Activities
- Stanford University Tobacco Prevention Toolkit
- You and Me, Together Vape-Free (elementary education curriculum)
- Healthy Futures (Alternative to Suspension program included in the Tobacco Prevention Toolkit)
- MY Healthy Futures Course (part of Healthy Futures Alternative to Suspension Program)
- CATCH My Breath Middle School E-cigarette Prevention
- CATCH Be Vape Free Virtual Field Trip
- Taking Down Tobacco (education session from Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids)
- Vaping: Know the Truth (education curriculum from Truth Initiative)
- INDEPTH (Alternative to Suspension course from American Lung Association)
- ASPIRE Prevention Education (bilingual program for middle and high school students)
- National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens: Classroom Resources
- CDC Empower Vape-Free Youth Campaign
- Know the Risks - A Youth Guide to E-cigarettes (CDC presentation)
- Kick Butts Day (CTFK - Take Down Tobacco)
- Smokescreen: A Smoking Prevention Videogame
- HECAT: Tobacco Use Prevention Curriculum
Quit Support for Youth and Adults
Youth (13-17yrs old)
- SC Tobacco Quitline (1-800-QUIT-NOW)
- Smokefree Teen
- Quit the Hit
- This is Quitting
- Text 'DITCHVAPE' to 88709
- Live Vape Free
- Text 'VAPEFREE' to 873373
- DipfreeTXT
Adults (18yrs and up)
- SC Tobacco Quitline (1-800-QUIT-NOW)
- Text 'READY' to 34191
- SC Tobacco Quitline - en español (1-855-DÉJELO-YA)
- Text 'LISTO' al 34191
- BecomeAnEx
- Smokefree.gov (available in Spanish)
- Text 'QUIT NOW' to 333888*
- Text 'DÉJELO YA' al 333888*
- Quit VET
- National Cancer Institute LiveHelp (available in Spanish)
**Message and data rates may apply/Se pueden aplicar tarifas por mensajes y datos
Fact Sheets and More Information