News and Events

Dixie County SWAT Members Monitor School District Tobacco Policy
March 6, 2025

On March 6, 2025, the Dixie County High School SWAT club conducted a Monitoring Policy Implementation activity on campus.

Seven SWAT officers participated in the Bureau of Tobacco Free Florida’s “Where Do You See…?” environmental scan. They walked around the school grounds, documenting tobacco-free school signs, tobacco litter, any students or staff using tobacco products, and the presence of vape detectors. After completing the scan, they held a discussion about their findings, including any surprises and areas for improvement.

The officers noted that the most commonly used tobacco and nicotine products among students are Zyns (smokeless/spitless pouches) and vaping devices. They also expressed concerns that school administration does not strictly enforce policies against youth tobacco and vape use on campus. While most of the officers recalled receiving tobacco and nicotine education in middle school, they felt that many students did not take the information seriously. They also discussed the need for the school to provide better resources on how students can quit using tobacco and nicotine products.

Following the environmental scan, the SWAT officers prepared a presentation scheduled for March 20, 2025, where they will share their findings and action plans with the Bureau of Tobacco Free Florida’s K-12 Policy Coordinator and the Statewide Youth Advocacy Coordinator. Their action plans include:

The officers hope that once a staff member is trained to assist students, they can actively promote this resource to the entire student body.

The Dixie County High School SWAT club remains committed to creating a tobacco- and nicotine-free school environment while supporting students who want to quit.