The 24/7 campaign is an initiative to help all schools in New Mexico adopt, implement, and enforce comprehensive nicotine-free policies. After years of advocating for policies that support nicotine-free learning environments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, our hard work—and that of our student advocates—has paid off. For the first time, New Mexico youth are now 100% protected from nicotine products in public schools. New Mexico’s recent policy change protects students, staff, and visitors from the use, possession, and distribution of all commercial nicotine products, including vapes. For more information about the update, take a look at our comprehensive policy checklist.

As New Mexico school districts update their policies to align with the new rule, 24/7 helps them understand what the requirements are for a comprehensive nicotine-free policy, provides support for passing a new policy through the school board, and provides ongoing technical assistance to ensure schools are able to communicate and enforce their policy. 24/7 is invested in helping every New Mexico school district protect its youth from the harms of nicotine.

This project is supported by New Mexico Department of Health with Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement Funds.

24/7 supports school administrators in implementing and enforcing the new nicotine-free policy at their school. The campaign is founded on the following six components: The 6 Cs.

• Commitment to a truly nicotine-free environment: Starting with school administrators and continuing through school staff, parents, and students, all parties must be on board to comply with and enforce a nicotine-free policy.

• Comprehensive nicotine-free policy: Current New Mexico law now requires that every school district maintain a comprehensive nicotine-free policy. That means the use, distribution, and possession of all nicotine products are prohibited by every person on school grounds—including parents, visitors, and staff—at all times. To learn more about what qualifies as comprehensive, take a look at our comprehensive policy checklist.
• Communication: When people know the rules, they are much more likely to comply with your new policy. Communicate your policy not only to students but to parents, staff, and visitors as well.
• Compliance and enforcement: A comprehensive nicotine-free policy details the consequences for first-, second-, and third-time offenders to your school policy. It is up to school administration to make sure rules and consequences are consistently enforced. Mixed messages encourage people to test your policy.
• Cessation and support: Schools must provide referrals to cessation support services to support nicotine users who need help quitting.
• Cultural competency: A nicotine-free policy must be aware of the diversity of New Mexico and how factors such as family income, gender, cultural traditions, and location contribute to nicotine use.
• Cessation and support: Schools must provide referrals to cessation support services to support tobacco users who need help quitting tobacco.
• Cultural competency: A tobacco-free policy must be aware of the diversity of New Mexico and how factors such as family income, gender, cultural traditions, and location contribute to tobacco use.

• Help with adopting a comprehensive nicotine-free school policy
• School-based events to raise awareness of your school’s nicotine policy and conduct an assessment of its implementation – along with an analysis of what’s working, where there’s room for improvement, and custom recommendations for your school
• In-person presentations or training for school staff