South Carolina state law requires all public school districts to adopt, implement, and enforce a written tobacco-free schools policy that includes e-cigarettes and vaping devices.  All state requirements regarding youth and commercial tobacco products can be found here:

• Youth Access to Tobacco Prevention Act of 2006 Amendment Summary - (DOCX)
• Youth Access to Tobacco Prevention Act of 2006 Full Text

Tobacco-free schools are a proven way to prevent youth tobacco use.  Protecting youth, school staff, and visitors from exposure to secondhand smoke and vaping aerosol creates healthy environments for everyone.  Keys to a successful and effective tobacco-free school policy include clear communication, periodic policy review and updates, and non-punitive enforcement. The Division of Tobacco Prevention and Control provides a number of resources to help school districts implement a comprehensive tobacco-free policy that is compliant with state requirements.  These resources can be used to:

• Review and strengthen current tobacco-free school policy
• Implement and enforce a tobacco-free school policy
• Communicate tobacco-free school policy to staff, students, and the public
• Promote free quit support for youth and adults
• Incorporate evidence-based youth tobacco prevention education in the classroom
• Utilize alternatives to suspension for students violating the tobacco-free school policy

Resources for Schools

Implement and Maintain Tobacco-free School Policy

• Administrator’s Guide to Implementing Tobacco-Free Schools Model Policy (SC DHEC)

Strengthen Current Policy

• 100% Comprehensive Tobacco-Free Schools Model Policy
• Tobacco Industry Sponsored Youth Prevention is Ineffective
• Alternatives to Suspension
• E-Cigarette/Vaping Prevention:  Tools for Schools toolkit

Communication Tools

• Tobacco-Free Schools Sample Policy One-Page (announcement)
• Sample sign (campus and building)

Tobacco Prevention Toolkits, Curricula, Alternatives to Suspension, and Other Classroom Tools/Activities

• Stanford University Tobacco Prevention Toolkit
  • You and Me, Together Vape-Free (elementary education curriculum)
  • Healthy Futures (Alternative to Suspension program included in the Tobacco Prevention Toolkit)
  • MY Healthy Futures Course (part of Healthy Futures Alternative to Suspension Program) 
• CATCH My Breath Middle School E-cigarette Prevention
• CATCH Be Vape Free Virtual Field Trip
• Taking Down Tobacco (education session from Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids)
• Vaping:  Know the Truth (education curriculum from Truth Initiative)
• INDEPTH (Alternative to Suspension course from American Lung Association)
• ASPIRE Prevention Education (bilingual program for middle and high school students)
• National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens: Classroom Resources
• CDC Empower Vape-Free Youth Campaign
• Know the Risks - A Youth Guide to E-cigarettes (CDC presentation)
• Kick Butts Day (CTFK - Take Down Tobacco)
• Smokescreen:  A Smoking Prevention Videogame
• HECAT:  Tobacco Use Prevention Curriculum

Quit Support for Youth and Adults 

Youth (13-17yrs old)

• SC Tobacco Quitline (1-800-QUIT-NOW)
• Smokefree Teen
• Quit the Hit
• This is Quitting
  • Text 'DITCHVAPE' to 88709
• Live Vape Free
  • Text 'VAPEFREE' to 873373
• DipfreeTXT

Adults (18yrs and up)

• SC Tobacco Quitline (1-800-QUIT-NOW)
  • Text 'READY' to 34191
• SC Tobacco Quitline - en español (1-855-DÉJELO-YA)
  • Text 'LISTO' al 34191
• BecomeAnEx
• Smokefree.gov (available in Spanish)
  • Text 'QUIT NOW' to 333888*
  • Text 'DÉJELO YA' al 333888*
• Quit VET
• National Cancer Institute LiveHelp (available in Spanish)

**Message and data rates may apply/Se pueden aplicar tarifas por mensajes y datos

Fact Sheets and More Information

• Alternative Nicotine Products
• Resources for Professionals About Vaping and E-cigarettes
• DHEC E-cigarette/ENDS Fact Sheet
• DHEC: Nicotine and the Escalating Risk of Addiction for Youth
• How Schools Can Help Students Stay Tobacco-Free