Nansemond River High School Y Street members held Tobacco-Free Spirit Day on Feb. 14.

Tobacco-Free Spirit Day is a day to celebrate school divisions across Virginia that have committed to being completely tobacco-free. A table was set up for students to participate in fun activities and for the chance to get some free stuff. Prizes given out included backpacks, perfume, cologne, stuffed animals and scarves.

Y Street members shared facts about nicotine addiction with their classmates. For example, did you know that the nicotine in e-cigarettes can affect teen brain development? Or that teens are more likely to get addicted to other tobacco products, such as cigarettes and dip, if they smoke e-cigarettes? These facts are part of the reason why Nansemond River High School is 100-percent tobacco- and e-cigarette free.

The 24/7 campaign of Y Street was an initiative to help all school divisions in Virginia understand and adopt 100-percent comprehensive tobacco and e-cigarette-free policies. In addition, the campaign aimed to support all school sites in implementing, communicating and enforcing those tobacco-free policies. Comprehensive policies support a school environment that is 100-percent free from tobacco products — including electronic cigarettes — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This policy is critical to creating a 100-percent tobacco-free learning environment for students.

The 24/7 campaign is a program of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth and Y Street, Virginia’s largest youth-led movement. Even though every school division in Virginia has some type of tobacco-free policy in place, it can be tough to communicate and enforce that policy. The 24/7 campaign supports schools in implementing and enforcing their comprehensive tobacco-free policies.