Newfoundland and Labrador is moving toward a smoke-free lifestyle with fewer young people in the province smoking, said the Honourable Rose Wiseman, Minister of Health and Community Services, as he encouraged all residents to mark National Non-Smoking Week by considering the enormous benefits of being a non-smoker.

"It is very encouraging to know that more and more of our youth are adopting a smoke-free lifestyle," said Minister Wiseman. "In the last four years, our government has introduced various initiatives to encourage our residents to either stop smoking or to never start, and it is gratifying to see they are having an impact."

Smoking rates have significantly dropped among youth in Newfoundland and Labrador. The latest statistics from the 2007 Student Drug Use Survey released in November show that tobacco use fell from 27.3 per cent in 2003 to 16.9 per cent in 2007 for students in grades 7, 9, 10 and 12 in the province.

"Clearly our approach to preventing tobacco use and helping people to quit is working among youth in our province," said Minister Wiseman. "This is important information for us as we move forward in planning additional initiatives to further reduce the rate of smoking in Newfoundland and Labrador."

As a next major step in tobacco reduction, the province is collaborating with its partners, such as the Alliance for the Control of Tobacco (ACT), the Canadian Cancer Society, the Newfoundland and Labrador Lung Association and the regional health authorities, in the development of the next phase of the Provincial Tobacco Reduction Strategy, for 2008 to 2011. The previous phase (2005-08) saw new initiatives such as the Smoke Free Environment Act in 2005 ban smoking in all public indoor places including bars and bingo halls and the implementation of the Be Free Smoke Free mass media campaign.

Kevin Coady, Executive Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Alliance for the Control of Tobacco (ACT), indicates that "because of the great work of ACT�s many partners throughout our province more and more people are choosing to live life smoke-free." Mr. Coady believes that the 2008-11 Provincial Tobacco Reduction Strategy will lead to greater protection for our population from the hazards of second-hand smoke and a further decline in the province�s smoking rates.

Minister Wiseman added, "National Non-Smoking Week helps to remind us all of the negative health consequences that stem from tobacco use. This presents a great opportunity for parents, guardians and educators to spread the message about the harmful effects of tobacco to help prevent and further decrease tobacco use among youth in our province."

National Non-Smoking Week runs from January 20- 26, 2008.

- 30 -

Media contact:

Glenda Power
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 685-1741
glendapower@gov.nl.ca

2008 01 21                                                     9:35 a.m.