News Release - "All I need is a little help from my friends say BC's twenty something smokers"

For Immediate Release: October 21, 2008

The BC Healthy Living Alliance is relating to BC smokers, aged 20 to 29 by reaching out and helping young smokers to quit where they live, learn, work and play.

"The tobacco strategy being implemented by the BC Healthy Living Alliance supports our ActNow BC goal for reducing tobacco use"; said Mary Polak, Minister of Healthy Living and Sport. "Even though we have met that goal of reducing the smoking rate to 14.4%, we want to further reduce the harm that tobacco use and second-hand smoke can inflict on British Columbians. We want to continue our aim of being the healthiest region ever to host an Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games by 2010".

Led by the BC Lung Association, the Canadian Cancer Society, BC and Yukon Division and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC and Yukon, the health agencies are increasing access to services and support on quitting smoking  for the twenty-something age group and encouraging smoke-free housing: 
 

  • The Lung Association is working with colleges and universities to increase support services for quitting smoking and encourage a tougher campus policy;

  • The Canadian Cancer Society is working with employers to build effective workplace support programs; and

  • The Heart and Stroke Foundation is working on increasing options for people who want to live in smoke-free apartments and condos.

All three agencies are promoting awareness of new and existing resources designed to help the twenty-something smoker.

BC stats indicate the twenty-something smoking rate has fallen over the last few years, but nevertheless remains several points higher than the smoking rate for the general population.Health advocates credit anti-tobacco advocacy and tougher tobacco control (smoking bans and sales restrictions) for the continued decline in youth tobacco use. But today much of their energies are focused on ensuring that the remaining tobacco users receive improved and easy access to proven smoking cessation tools and support.

"On one hand it's our role to educate people about tobacco use and advocate for tougher tobacco control, and on the other, to provide non-judgmental support tobacco users can relate to," says Scott McDonald, Executive Director for the BC Lung Association.

When it comes to twenty something smokers, all three health agencies agree, their most effective role is to ensure proven smoking cessation service is on standby for those who need it, while continuing to mobilize public support for even tougher tobacco control.

"With young tobacco users, negative tobacco messaging goes in one ear and out the other," says Diego Marchese, VP, Research and Health Promotion for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. & Yukon. "According to our findings, young people dislike anti-smoking advertising, scoff at scare tactics, and while they like humour, don't find it leaves an enduring impression. If anyone has a clear advantage in terms of influence, it's their peers - friends and acquaintances - who used to smoke and have succeeded in quitting."

"Young people, perhaps predictably, are sceptical of authority figures and any form of big brother interference, but don't deny that smoking has lost much of its cool, leaving those left nursing a nicotine habit very much on the outside," continued McDonald. "The good news is most want to quit, but are either feeling defeated by serious nicotine addiction or, in the case of young people, aren't in a particular hurry."

"Creating a sense of urgency can be a challenge. A lot of young people are risk-takers and feel time is on their side," says Sharon Storoschuk, Manager of Health Promotion at the Canadian Cancer Society, BC & Yukon Division. "But fewer and fewer are smoking, and more and more who do, want to stop. That's where organizations like ours come in. We want young smokers to look not only to their peers, but to see us as non-judgmental. Here to help when you're ready," continued Storoschuk.

"Quitting smoking is the single most important thing people can do to improve their health - especially if they catch the habit early. This is why the BC Healthy Living Alliance's Tobacco Strategy is a cornerstone of our work to support healthy living in BC," added Jean Blake, Chair of the BC Healthy Living Alliance.  "We look forward to building on our momentum and seeing further gains in this age group as these initiatives roll out over the coming months."

 
About the BC Healthy Living Alliance

The BC Healthy Living Alliance is a provincial coalition of organizations working together to promote physical activity, healthy living and living smoke-free through a series of initiatives, programs and services. The BC Healthy Living Alliance (BCHLA) was formed in March 2003 with a mission to improve the health of British Columbians by leading collaborative actions to promote physical activity, healthy eating and living-tobacco free. The BC Healthy Living Alliance works closely with the provincial government to support the goals for ActNow BC. The BC Lung Association, the Canadian Cancer Society, BC & Yukon Division and the Heart & Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon are the lead agencies on tobacco use.

 

For more information contact:

Jack Boomer, Project Coordinator
BC Healthy Living Alliance - Tobacco Strategy
jackboomer(at)shaw.ca

  

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