(NC)—See how much you know about youth and smoking in Canada. The facts could astound you. Answer true or false to the following statements.
1. Almost all adult smokers began smoking before they could legally buy cigarettes.
2. The sophistication, fun and glamour messages seen in ads, or in the movies, do not play an important role in getting young people to start smoking.
3. Teenagers smoke more than a billion cigarettes a year.
4. Children exposed to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) from parents have more childhood illnesses than children in smoke-free homes.
5. One out of 10 teens that try smoking get hooked.
6. Research has shown that tobacco prevention programs should be taught
continuously from kindergarten through high school if students are to lead a smoke-free lifestyle.
Answers
1. True. And among teen smokers, females had their first cigarette by approximately the age of 12 and males by the age of 13.
2. False. Kids are twice as likely to be influenced by advertising as they are from peer pressure. Young people are three times more likely to smoke if their film heroes smoke.
3. True. Teenagers do smoke more than a billion cigarettes a year, resulting in retail sales worth over $400 million. The average teen spends $1,000 per year on cigarettes.
4. True. Children exposed to ETS in homes have a higher number of childhood illnesses than children in
smoke-free homes. For example, in Canada there are 2,200 bronchitis hospitalizations, 11,000 ear infections and 180,000 asthma cases per year.
5. False. In fact, the number is much higher. Eight out of 10 teens that try smoking get hooked. Seventy percent of 15-19 year-old smokers report at least one attempt to quit smoking over the last 12 months.
6. True. Building a foundation in the early grades gives students a head start in gaining an awareness and attitude to shape a healthy lifestyle. A new and innovative smoking prevention program is now available to all elementary and high schools in Ontario through The Lung Association.
To learn more, visit www.lungsareforlife.ca or call 1-888-566-5864 (LUNG).
From The Lung Association
- News Canada
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