Who We Are


The 24/7 campaign is an initiative to help all schools in New Mexico understand, adopt, implement, and enforce comprehensive tobacco-free policies. Comprehensive policies support a school environment that is truly free from tobacco products — including electronic cigarettes — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This type of policy is critical to creating a truly tobacco-free learning environment for students. For more information about the comprehensive standard, take a look at our comprehensive policy checklist.

24/7 helps school districts understand what the requirements are for a comprehensive tobacco-free policy; provides support for passing a new policy through the school board; and provides ongoing technical assistance to ensure schools are able to communicate and enforce their policy. 24/7 is invested in helping every New Mexico school district protect its youth from the harms of tobacco.

This project is supported by New Mexico Department of Health with Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement Funds.

What We Do


24/7 supports school administrators through the complete process of adopting and enforcing a tobacco-free policy at their school. The campaign is founded on the following six components that a school must have to create a tobacco-free environment: The 6 Cs.

  • Commitment to a truly tobacco-free environment: Starting with school administrators and continuing through school staff, parents and students, all parties must be onboard to comply with and enforce a tobacco-free policy.
  • Comprehensive tobacco-free policy: Current New Mexico law requires every school to have a tobacco-free policy, but many policies have loopholes. A comprehensive policy means that every person on school grounds, including staff, parents and visitors, are included in the policy, and that not only the use but possession of all tobacco products — e-cigarettes included — is prohibited on school grounds and school property at all times. For more information about what qualifies as comprehensive, take a look at our comprehensive policy checklist.
  • Communication: When people know the rules, they are much more likely to comply with your new policy. Communicate your policy not only to students, but to parents, staff and visitors as well.
  • Compliance and enforcement: A comprehensive tobacco-free policy details the consequences for first-, second- and third-time offenders to your school policy. It is up to school administration to make sure rules and consequences are consistently enforced. Mixed messages encourage people to test your policy.
  • Cessation and support: Schools must provide referrals to cessation support services to support tobacco users who need help quitting tobacco.
  • Cultural competency: A tobacco-free policy must be aware of the diversity of New Mexico and how factors such as family income, gender, cultural traditions, and location contribute to tobacco use.
  • Cessation and support: Schools must provide referrals to cessation support services to support tobacco users who need help quitting tobacco.
  • Cultural competency: A tobacco-free policy must be aware of the diversity of New Mexico and how factors such as family income, gender, cultural traditions, and location contribute to tobacco use.

We also receive help from our amazing Evolvement students who lead the following activities in their school districts:

  • Principal meetings
  • Board meetings
  • Events
  • PR and earned media
  • Faculty trainings
  • Collecting research via surveys and support cards
  • Spreading the word about the dangers of tobacco

How We Can Help


Contact the 24/7 New Mexico campaign for more information or to get involved: info@247NewMexico.com

24/7 offers free support for individual schools and school districts. Here are some ways we can help – all free of charge:

  • Analysis of your school district’s tobacco policy and recommendations for meeting the comprehensive standard
  • Bilingual tobacco-free school signage (learn more)
  • Toolkit with step-by-step advice on implementing, communicating, and enforcing your tobacco-free school policy
  • Help advocating for and adopting a comprehensive tobacco-free school policy
  • School-based events to raise awareness of your school’s tobacco policy and conduct an assessment of its implementation – along with an analysis of what’s working, where there’s room for improvement, and custom recommendations for your school
  • In-person presentations or training for school staff