The district joins Farmington in their commitment to improve student health and safety

SAN JUAN COUNTY – The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Tobacco Use Prevention and Control program (TUPAC) and the 24/7 campaign recognize the Bloomfield School District’s board for their recent vote on January 12, 2021 to adopt a comprehensive, tobacco-free school policy. After the Farmington Municipal School District adopted the same policy in 2019, this vote signifies how seriously San Juan County takes their commitment to provide the healthiest education environment possible for their students.

“Student safety is a top priority for Bloomfield, and we are grateful to the 24/7 campaign for demonstrating how to strengthen our policy to keep our schools 100% tobacco-free,” says Bloomfield Schools, Board of Education.

The 24/7 campaign partners with school districts to help them update their tobacco policies to meet the Department of Health comprehensive standard, which is more stringent than the current required laws in the state of New Mexico.¹ By this standard, the definition of tobacco products must include e- cigarettes and nicotine liquid containers, and the policy must apply to students, staff, and visitors at all school property owned, leased, or rented by the district, as well as all school-sponsored activities whether on- or off-site. In addition, the 24/7 tobacco-free guidelines require schools to provide cessation resources as well as progressive and supportive discipline measures to assist those struggling with addiction.

To help promote its new comprehensive policy, Bloomfield School District will be receiving free resources from the 24/7 campaign for all schools, including the 24/7 Toolkit and bilingual tobacco-free signs for all school buildings and grounds. Other free resources include faculty trainings and bilingual pre-written announcements, staff memos and parent letters explaining the policy.

“It is a significant achievement to see Bloomfield adopt our comprehensive tobacco-free policies to protect their students’ health,” says David Tompkins, TUPAC Program Manager. “We believe San Juan County is truly demonstrating the value of distraction-free learning environments, and we look forward to other districts and counties following suit.”

About the 24/7 campaign

The 24/7 campaign is an initiative fueled by students and funded by the NMDOH TUPAC program with a vision to help all school districts in New Mexico adopt, implement, and enforce comprehensive tobacco-free policies. For more information, visit www.247NewMexico.com.

About the TUPAC program

The Tobacco Use Prevention and Control (TUPAC) program and its partners use a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to promote healthy lifestyles that are free from tobacco abuse and addiction among all New Mexicans. The program works with communities, schools, and organizations across the state to implement activities and services that decrease the harmful and addictive use of commercial tobacco, outside of its traditional, sacred or ceremonial purposes. TUPAC follows recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Visit www.nmtupac.com to learn more.

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1 6.12.4 NMAC, TOBACCO, ALCOHOL AND DRUG FREE SCHOOLS RULE

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