School Tobacco Policy

Katie Webb partners with the 24/7 campaign to meet with all Portales Municipal School
District principals and present to the school board in hopes of improving the district

tobacco and nicotine policy.

Since its kickoff in 2017, the 24/7 campaign, supported by the New Mexico Department of
Health’s (DOH) Nicotine Use Prevention and Control program (NUPAC), has partnered with
school districts to help them update their tobacco and nicotine policies to meet the NMDOH’s
comprehensive standard, which is more stringent than the current required laws in the state of
New Mexico.
1
In fact, 24/7 is working toward the goal of a statewide comprehensive tobacco
and nicotine policy that will fully protect students from the harms of tobacco within learning
environments. But until then, the campaign is progressing with local efforts to reach individual
schools and districts that are hungry and appreciative of support aimed at combating the rising
nicotine addiction amongst young people.
Portales High School senior, local youth advocate and member of the Evolvement program,
Katie Webb has been working tirelessly to build support and improve Portales Municipal School
District tobacco policy. In the past few months Katie has spoken to every school principal,
presented to the school board and met privately with Superintendent Mr. Cain to express
concerns she has about tobacco and nicotine use on campus. Katie says this about her desire
for improvements:
“Portales Municipal Schools district needs an updated tobacco policy which will improve
notification of the policy as well as rehabilitation resources to students who need it. I see
way too many of my peers using tobacco products on campus, and I believe that a policy
change, with updated notification processes might help.”
Katie Webb met with key decision makers to better explain 24/7’s tobacco and nicotine policy
standards and build support for improvements. She met with Mr. Ontiveros, Mr. Bachicha, Mr.
Harris, Mrs. Meeks, Mrs. Fowler, Mrs. Ontiveros, Mrs. Harris, Mrs. Alvarez, Mrs. Lopez, Mrs.
Mitchell, Mrs. Brock, and Mrs. Skinner and received signed pledges of support from Mr.
1 6.12.4 NMAC, TOBACCO, ALCOHOL AND DRUG FREE SCHOOLS RULE

Ontiveros, Mr. Bachicha, Mr. Harris, Mrs. Meeks, Mrs. Fowler, Mrs. Ontiveros, Mrs. Lopez, Mrs.
Mitchell, Mrs. Brock, and Mrs. Skinner. Assistant Principal Rebekah Mitchell at James
Elementary said:
“This 24-7 Tobacco-free campaign is mission critical for communities to make an honest
effort to reduce the allurement of tobacco products students face while participating in
school-related activities and throughout the school day. Undoubtedly, 24-7 will empower
students to cultivate and embody healthy lifelong habits.”
Currently, no policy changes have been adopted, however Katie continues to advocate for
improvements. For Katie, her experience has been challenging at times, but one of personal
growth as well. She said:
“In my experience meeting with leaders from my school district, such as principals and
even our Superintendent, I have seen a lot of growth in myself. Meeting with leaders in
my district has allowed my confidence to grow and has made me more passionate about
this change in my hometown. Changing policy takes time, and I have definitely received
some hesitation from my school district, which is common with these types of changes.
One thing I would like to point out is that there are so many principals in our district who
support this change, which really pushed me to make this change happen. Having the
support of our school district’s leaders makes me feel like the change I am working
towards is for the best.”
Katie graduates in 2023 and plans to attend Eastern New Mexico University. She is passionate
about improving Portales Municipal School District, improving the health of her peers, and
bettering her community. Katie says:
“It is my goal to help make a change in the schools which I have grown up in, and love
so much. I want to help ensure that the future students at Portales Schools have a fully
tobacco free campus to attend.”

About the 24/7 campaign
The 24/7 campaign is an initiative fueled by students and funded by the NMDOH NUPAC
program with a vision to help all school districts in New Mexico adopt, implement, and
enforce comprehensive tobacco and nicotine free policies. For more information, visit
www.247NewMexico.com.
About the NUPAC program
The Nicotine Use Prevention and Control (NUPAC) program and its partners use a
comprehensive, evidence-based approach to promote healthy lifestyles that are free from
nicotine abuse and addiction among all New Mexicans. The program works with communities,
schools, and organizations across the state to implement activities and services that decrease
the harmful and addictive use of commercial tobacco, outside of its traditional, sacred or
ceremonial purposes. NUPAC follows recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.. Visit www.nupacnm.com to learn more.