Next week is National Smoke-Free Week (NSSF) from Sunday, January 21st to Saturday, January 27th. Since 1977, the SNF has been celebrated in Canada every January.
OTTAWA, ON, Jan. 17, 2024 /CNW/ – The week's goals are to educate Canadians about the health effects of smoking and help people quit.
Quick facts about smoking in Canada
• There are still 3.8 million smokers in Canada, which represents a current smoking prevalence of 12% (Canadian Community Health Survey 2022, ages 12 and over). In 1965, 50% of Canadians smoked, 61% of whom were men.
• Tobacco remains the leading preventable cause of illness and death in Canada, accounting for 46,000 deaths per year, or approximately 30% of all cancer deaths.
• Direct health care costs associated with tobacco are estimated at $5.4 billion per year.
• The high rates of e-cigarette use among youth are extremely concerning. In the 2021-2022 school year, 24% of Canadian high school students in grades 10 to 12 (secondary grades 3 to 5) vaped, compared to 9% seven years earlier (2014-2015 school year).
• Much remains to be done to achieve the goal of reducing tobacco consumption to below 5% by 2035.
Representatives from the Canadian Cancer Society are available to discuss issues related to tobacco control in general, including necessary policy measures, and to provide advice on how to help people quit smoking.
Publication health index: January 17, 2024 – Number of visits since publication: 36
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