WHO releases toolkit for creating tobacco- and nicotine-free schools

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new toolkit[1] intended to provide practical guidance to school management and staff on how to develop, communicate, educate and implement effective policies to combat tobacco and other nicotine products around schools.

WHO recalls that approximately 88% of adult smokers smoke their first cigarette before the age of 18. While smoking continues to decline among European adolescents, the use of new tobacco and nicotine products, such as vaping products, is increasing in these age groups.

The tools and guidance have been developed and tested in collaboration with countries that have successfully implemented tobacco- and nicotine-free school or campus policies, including India, Indonesia, Ireland, Morocco, Qatar, Syria, Kyrgyzstan, Saudi Arabia and Ukraine.

A set of measures to denormalize smoking and nicotine among children

The guide is a step-by-step manual for creating nicotine- and tobacco-free schools, with advice on the development, implementation and enforcement of measures, associated education and awareness campaigns, and tobacco and nicotine cessation programmes.

The guide highlights four areas for promoting a tobacco- and nicotine-free environment and denormalizing tobacco use among young people. While banning the use of tobacco and nicotine products is an essential element of school policy, WHO emphasizes the importance of banning the sale of these products near schools, banning direct and indirect advertising and promotion near schools, and refusing any form of sponsorship or engagement with the tobacco industry and related industries.

In many developing countries, tobacco companies and their allies use corporate social responsibility to promote their products to young people, offering grants and scholarships, donating computers and even building schools. This image strategy aims to present them as responsible actors committed to the common good. WHO stresses the importance of educating young people about the many dangers of tobacco use and giving them the tools to challenge industry tactics aimed at achieving a tobacco-free generation.

WHO also states that to be successfully implemented, the policy must be comprehensive and sustainable and extend beyond the school environment. A good understanding of tobacco control measures, awareness of tobacco industry tactics, knowledge of the risks of smoking and vaping, and support for cessation are required.

Protecting schools from passive smoking

Article 8 of the WHO FCTC recognizes that there is no level of exposure below which second-hand smoke is safe. This article urges each country to "adopt and implement [...] measures to protect against exposure to tobacco smoke in indoor workplaces, public transport, indoor public places and, where appropriate, other public places." WHO notes that nearly half of the world's children breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke, and approximately 51,000 children die each year from diseases related to second-hand smoke.

" Whether they are sitting in class, playing outside, or waiting at the school bus stop, we must protect young people from second-hand smoke from tobacco use and the toxic emissions from vaping products, as well as the advertisements that promote these products. " said Dr Ruediger Krech, director of health promotion at the World Health Organization.

Keywords: WHO, Article 8, passive smoking, denormalization, smoking, vaping, youth, schools

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[1] . Nicotine- and tobacco-free schools: policy development and implementation toolkit. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2023. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.