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Health and Community Services
January 19, 2012

National Non-Smoking Week Recognized by Provincial Government

Breaking up is hard to do, the theme of National Non-Smoking Week 2012 (January 15-21), encourages people to end their relationship with smoking and start a new one with a healthier lifestyle.

“Our government is marking National Non-Smoking Week by urging everyone to live smoke-free,” said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services. “Smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the province. We have taken several steps to support tobacco reduction through provincial strategies that include legislation, public education, and organizational funding."

In July 2011, an amendment to the Smoke Free Environment Act came into force, to ban smoking in cars when children under the age of 16 are present, as well as to ban designated smoking rooms in workplaces. This amendment ensures greater protection of children and workers in Newfoundland and Labrador from exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.

In November 2010, the Provincial Cancer Control Strategy was released. This strategy focuses on reducing the incidence and impact of cancer and improving the quality of life of those living with cancer. One of the key policy directions of this strategy involves cancer prevention through promoting a healthy population in Newfoundland and Labrador. Tobacco control is a priority of the Provincial Wellness Plan and aims to prevent children and youth from starting to smoke, support people in their efforts to quit smoking and protect people from exposure to second-hand smoke.

The Provincial Government also works with community partners to help reduce smoking rates in the province. The Alliance for the Control of Tobacco (ACT) and the Newfoundland and Labrador Lung Association’s Provincial Smokers’ Helpline receive approximately $440,000 in annual funding.

In addition, ACT was provided with $95,000 from the Provincial Government over two years to develop a social media campaign to help prevent youth and young adults from starting to smoke and to support them to quit smoking. The ACT Facebook page provides information on the negative impacts of tobacco use, and offers a new Web app that simulates a person’s change in appearance after 10 years of smoking. For more information, or to use the app please visit www.facebook.com/actnl or www.trickyourselfout.ca  

“We continue to work in collaboration with the regional health authorities, school districts and other community partners to implement programs and policies aimed at preventing and reducing tobacco use,” said Minister Sullivan. “The programs and policies currently in place have seen the percentage of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians aged 15 years and older who currently smoke reduced to 20 per cent, down from 28 per cent in 1999. This has led to the youth smoking rate (ages 15-19) to be cut in half, down to 15 per cent. Our government will continue to work to further reduce these rates and help create a healthier population throughout our province.”

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Media contact:
Jennifer Tulk
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 699-6524
jennifertulk@gov.nl.ca 

2012 01 19             10:20 a.m.

 
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