After the smoking ban, the North Carolina’s public schools environments in which students live and work became different more cleaner. School environments with no tobacco smoke smell, with no litter of cigarette butts or the stolen smoke breaks.

In this way, all 115 school districts in North Carolina became 100 percent tobacco-free.

Researchers think that for a state that has been in the stranglehold of tobacco for more years than one, this change is a remarkable achievement.

This change reflects the tenacity of public health advocates and professionals and the courage of legislators to act on behalf of the health of North Carolinians.

Indeed, declaring the public schools tobacco-free zones delivers a powerful message to a population willing to listen and eager to learn.

Students, especially teenagers, school administrators, parents, local advocates, medical care providers and business leaders, combined their efforts into a force that made change happen.

These tireless and informed persons must be applauded for their persistence, their concern for everyone’s health and for the manner in which they brought their message to the attention of those who needed to hear it most.

The smoking ban eliminated exposure to secondhand smoke and ensures that students have positive role models to look to as they learn the value of preventive health measures.

After a full investigation researchers found that the value of tobacco-free schools notes a 40 percent decrease in smoking by teens, as compared to those who attend schools without such a policy.