South Carolina Tobacco Collaborative

Smoke Free Florence

SOUTH CAROLINA TEENS

• Approximately 1 in 6 middle school students and 1 in 3 high school students in South Carolina have used some form of tobacco during the past 30 days (current tobacco users).
• Findings revealed that among ever cigarette smokers, 20.5% of middle school students and 12.4% of high school students smoked their first whole cigarette before age 11.
• When students younger than 18, who were current smokers, tried to buy cigarettes in a store during the past 30 days, 67.7% of middle school and 62.2% of high school students were not asked to show proof of age.
• S.C. youth smokers were very confident in their ability to quit smoking. Approximately 3 in 4 current smokers thought they would be able to quit if they wanted to; about half of current smokers (48.8% in middle school and 54.7% in high school) reported that they wanted to quit smoking now.
• Overall, 73.8% of middle school and 89.7% of high school students knew about the existence of a no smoking rule at their school. However, 36.0% of middle school students and a significantly higher percentage of high school students (79.7%) have seen other students break the school smoking policy.

Source: 2006 S.C. Youth Tobacco Survey

FLORENCE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
There are five school districts in Florence County - Florence County School Districts 01, 02, 03, 04, and 05. Florence County operates 21 elementary schools serving grades K-6. Pre-school children are served by the four-year old program in seven of the schools, and kindergarten classes are available in four schools. Florence County has 7 high schools and one career center to serve grades 9-12. These schools range in size from 1,200 to 1,500 students, while the career center serves over 1,400 students. These schools are fully accredited by the South Carolina State Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

BLAZIN' THE WAY
All South Carolina children deserve healthy and safe learning environments. The Pee Dee Healthy People Coalition supports making every school 100% tobacco free - including the grounds.

The South Carolina School Board Association in collaboration with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), Division of Tobacco Prevention and Control endorses the adoption of policies that address preventing tobacco use within schools.

VIEW DOCUMENTS:

South Carolina School Board Association Policy & Legislative Update
Blazin' the Way Overview
Model Policy for Schools
Youth Access to Tobacco Prevention Act of 2006
Map of School Districts Already Blazin' the Way