The PEI Tobacco Reduction Alliance launched National Non-smoking Week today by releasing an Island study showing that fewer high school students smoked in 2000 than in 1999.
The study of more than 4700 high school students revealed that in 1999 close to 17% of grade nine students smoked every week compared to 10.7% in 2000. The smoking reduction trend continued in grades 10 and 11, but was not as strong as that shown for grade nine students. The number of students in grade 10 who smoked every week dropped from 20% to 19.4% between 1999 and 2000, and for grade 11 weekly smoking rates dropped from 25.5% to 23.4% for the same period. A slight increase was found in the weekly smoking rates of the students in grade 12, where 27.6 % smoked every week in 1999 compared to 28.1% in 2000. Of the students that smoke every week, 83.9% of them plan to quit smoking at some time in the future.
The study was conducted by Donna Murnaghan, Researcher, University of Prince Edward Island School of Nursing.
A number of community groups and government organizations, many of them members of the PEI Tobacco Reduction Alliance, have worked during the past year on multiple strategies to reduce tobacco use, especially among Island youth.
Health and Social Services Minister Jamie Ballem advised that survey results show that by working together Government and community groups can effectively address the enormous health consequences of tobacco use in PEI. "We are extremely pleased with the progress the Alliance has made in a short period of time, and we will continue to provide dedicated full-time resources to the PEI Tobacco Reduction Strategy."
Education Minister Jeff Lantz also expressed pleasure with the survey results. "By helping students stop smoking and by encouraging others not to start smoking, we will continue to promote healthy lifestyle choices in our schools and communities. We strongly support the work of the PEI Tobacco Reduction Alliance."
Members of the Alliance focused major effort over the past 18 months on school- based activities. Strategies highlighted four key areas including implementing effective curriculum, establishing healthy policies, providing supportive environments and assisting students who are trying to quit.
A progress report released today reviews the work of the Alliance since the announcement of their comprehensive strategy in May 1999.
Vicki Francis, co-chair of the PEI Tobacco Reduction Alliance and Executive Director of the PEI Division of the Canadian Cancer Society, stated that she is extremely pleased with the increasing participation of high school students in tobacco reduction activities. "More than 100 students have participated in smoking cessation programs offered though their high schools. This will have a tremendous effect on their future health."
"High school students are talking to one another about the deadly effects of tobacco use as part of Student Clubs dedicated to education and cessation activities," said Ms. Francis. "Students have performed plays, launched button campaigns, and tested the carbon monoxide levels of fellow students."
Alliance members also distributed over 5000 graphic posters to Island schools illustrating the toxic and addictive substances found in cigarettes, supported smoke-free policies implemented by school boards, worked to develop curriculum and resources for children in grades one to nine, and identified a teacher in every Island high school to coordinate tobacco reduction activities.
"The hard work of the Alliance appears to be making a difference," indicated Ms. Francis.
Members of the Alliance have also implemented initiatives to protect children from the harmful effects of second hand smoke. Strategies include the introduction of self-help smoking cessation programs for pregnant women and the distribution of more than 20,000 signs to support Islanders to make their homes smoke-free.
During the coming year, the Alliance plans to work with Government to establish smoking cessation programs and to encourage workplaces to establish smoke-free policies and support employees who wish to quit smoking.
For more information on the Alliance, please contact Vicki Francis, PEI Division of the Canadian Cancer Society, 566-4007.