Massachusetts has for the most part met and in some cases exceeded these objectives. Objective 3.10 calls for the establishment of tobacco-free environments and inclusion of tobacco use prevention in the curricula of all elementary, middle, and secondary schools, preferably as part of comprehensive school health education. Objective 4.13 calls for the provision to children in all school districts and private schools, primary and secondary educational programs on alcohol and other drugs, preferably as part of comprehensive school education. Objective 7.16 calls for an increase to at least 50 percent the proportion of elementary and secondary schools that teaches nonviolent conflict resolution skills, preferably as part of comprehensive school health education. One area specific to the mission of the Health Protection Fund is tobacco use.
Districts are in excellent shape for having policies in place for tobacco-free schools.
The policies, however, are more oriented toward punishment as a consequence of violation than for tobacco prevention education. While all students are receiving tobacco prevention education, including skills for refusal, few cessation programs are in place. Those that are in place are not experiencing high completion rates. This is an area of concern. Most of the relationships were between program practices and tobacco use and marijuana use.