Las Cruces public schools to vote on policy that would ban tobacco and e-cigarettes on campus
The Las Cruces Public School district will vote on Tuesday evening to adopt a new policy that would effectively ban the use of tobacco and e-cigarettes on campus.
“We don’t want (students) to start, because nicotine is a drug,” said Mary Morgan, the southwest field coordinator for the New Mexico Department of Health Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Program. “It does cause addiction.”
The new, stricter policy is a joint effort between the school district and the 24/7 campaign, which is a state-sponsored program funded by the New Mexico Department of Health. Morgan told ABC-7 that the old policy just covered students, but the new policy covers visitors and faculty.
“At this time, their brains are still developing,” Morgan said. “Nicotine changes brain chemistry.”
Morgan discussed the growing number of students that choose to use e-cigarettes or vaping devices.
“It’s a device; it’s electronic; it’s cool; It’s prohibited,” Morgan said. “For this cohort, it’s part of their youth. It’s part of their growing up.”
Morgan told ABC-7 that e-cigarette companies, now largely owned by big tobacco, have marketed their product in appealing flavors to younger generations of smokers. She said the devices are dangerous because they are not under the same regulations as combustible tobacco products.
“The advertisers tell them they’re safer, they sell them this product as a safe alternative,” Morgan said. “They’re not exactly known for telling the truth and they’re not exactly known for being very forthright with their research and their findings.”
