November 2013
News Release: Parliamentary Secretary Eve Adams Meets with Students to Discuss Anti-Smoking Initiatives
Canada is a world leader in the fight against tobacco, and smoking rates, including amongst youth aged 15 to 17, are at an all-time low.
In 2009, when Parliament passed the Cracking Down on Tobacco Marketing Aimed at Youth Act, which amended the Tobacco Act, Canada became the first country in the world to ban the use of certain additives - including flavours like chocolate and bubble gum - in cigarettes, little cigars and blunt wraps (cigar rolling paper) that were making these tobacco products more appealing to youth.
These changes to the Tobacco Act also made it harder for industry to entice young people to use tobacco products, by further restricting ads for tobacco products in publications that may be viewed by children and youth.
In 2011, the Government adopted regulations requiring updated and larger health warning labels on cigarette and little cigar packages across the country, with the aim to increase awareness of the health hazards associated with tobacco use.
These graphic health warnings cover 75 percent of packages, and include a pan-Canadian Quitline number and a web address. As well, the regulations require health information messages that are highlighted with colour and easy-to-understand toxic emissions statements.
To help youth to quit smoking, Health Canada developed the Quit4Life youth smoking cessation program. The Quit4Life program resources consist of a booklet and a facilitator's guide. The booklet can be used by youth to guide them through the process of quitting smoking, at their own pace. More information about the Quit4Life program can be found on the Health Canada website.
The most recent Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey results from 2012 show that the prevalence of tobacco use by Canadian youth aged 15 to 17 years is at only seven per cent, the lowest rate ever recorded for this age group. And, the current smoking rate among Canadians (aged 15 years and older) is also at an all-time low of 16 per cent, which is a significant decrease from 22 per cent in 2001, when the Federal Tobacco Control Strategy was launched.
The combined efforts of all levels of government, healthcare providers and public health stakeholders, including non-governmental organizations working in tobacco control, have played a role in reducing smoking prevalence to these record-low levels.
