Texas Tobacco Laws – for Schools AISD Policy and Student Code of Conduct Compliance, Education & Enforcement 11/15/2015 1

Tobacco Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States Everyday, 1,200 people die from tobacco use (That’s one person every 72 seconds…)

Tobacco and Young Adults 3,000 people under the age of 18 become regular smokers everyday 1,000 of them will eventually die of a tobacco related illness Today, there are approximately 450,000 young people addicted to tobacco who will eventually die of a tobacco related illness

Benefits of Quitting The American Cancer Society lists some of the immediate and long-term health benefits of quitting smoking: After 20 minutes, blood pressure drops to normal. After 8 hours, the carbon monoxide level in the blood drops to normal. After 48 hours, nerve endings start regrowing and the senses of smell and taste are enhanced. 11/15/2015 4

Benefits of Quitting In one to nine months, coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath decrease and cilia (tiny, hair like cells that move continually to clean air that is breathed in) re- grow in the lungs. After five years, the chance of dying from lung cancer decreases by almost half. After 15 years, the risk of heart disease is equal to that of a nonsmoker, and the risk of dying from lung cancer is only slightly higher than that of a non smoker. 11/15/2015 5

Second-Hand Smoke There are over 4,000 chemicals in second- hand smoke 43 of these chemicals are known to cause cancer 15% of cigarette smoke is inhaled by the smoker 85% of the smoke is inhaled by others around the smoker

Quit Facts 83% of current adult smokers wish they had never started smoking 93% of smokers who try to quit resume regular smoking within one year On average, it takes 5-7 quit attempts to succeed

Tobacco-Free School Environment: Tobacco use is prohibited by any person on District premises, at school or school-related activities Tobacco use is prohibited by AISD employees in District vehicles It is illegal for students to possess tobacco products on District premises, at school or school-related activities School personnel shall enforce these policies on school property Senate Bill 1, Texas Education Code, Section and AISD Student Code of Conduct

It is illegal for a person under 18 years of age to possess, purchase, consume or accept a cigarette or tobacco product Health & Safety Code M.I.P – Tobacco Law Minor in Possession of Tobacco:

Provisions of the Law: A person under 18 years of age who possesses, purchases, consumes or accepts a cigarette or tobacco product will be cited for Minor In Possession of Tobacco (M.I.P.)

Penalties for M.I.P. – Tobacco: Class C Misdemeanor Attend an eight hour Tobacco Awareness Class Complete eight to 12 hours of community service Six month loss or delay of your driver’s license $250 fine