Tobacco And Youth

Tobacco Industry Manipulation of Youth

For every dollar increase in price, the odds that an adolescent will move on to the next level of smoking decrease by 24%

Impact of Marketing on Youth

Want more info? Please visit these great Canadian sites:

Teens Now Talk Magazine - Be heard, be seen, be the voice of change all across Atlantic Canada!

Child Protection, Foster Care and Second-hand Smoke

Smoke Free Vehicles

This bill came into effect April 1, 2008. The law will prohibit smoking in any vehicle carrying children under age 19. Nova Scotia has set the precedent by becoming the first province to adopt such a law.

This paves the way for other provinces to do likewise.

Ban on Point-of-Sale Tobacco Advertising

March 31st, 2007 - Nova Scotia enacted a ban on point-of-sale tobacco advertising.

Nova Scotia becomes 100% Smoke Free

Nova Scotia became100% smoke-free starting December 1, 2006. Amendments to the provincial Smoke-Free Places Act (SFPA) make Nova Scotia’s legislation the strongest in Canada. The goal - to protect Nova Scotians from tobacco smoke.

For more information on the SFPA please visit SickOfSmoke.com

Youth and Tobacco Control report

Nova Scotia Tobacco-free sports and recreation

Health Authorities awarded grant for Teens Tackle Tobacco Project

Youth Sites for quitting smoking

Smoke-FX

Tobacco-Free Kids

Health Canada Youth Zone

The Truth

Teachers/Parents

Lungs are for Life (The Lung Association)

Health Canada

Big Tobacco in Our Schools

It’s My Life (PBS)

Second-hand Smoke and Youth

What Is Second-hand Smoke?

Second-hand smoke is a combination of the smoke from a burning cigarette and the smoke exhaled by the smoker. Many people find second-hand unpleasant, annoying, and irritating to the eyes and nose. More importantly, it represents a dangerous health hazard. Over 4,000 different chemicals have been identified in second-hand smoke, and at least 50 of these chemicals cause cancer.

Who Is At Risk?

Second-hand smoke is dangerous to everyone. Second-hand smoke causes heart disease, lung cancer, nasal sinus cancer and respiratory ailments in adults. Most at risk though, are unborn babies, infants and children.

Second-hand Smoke and Unborn Children

Slows down babies' growth and development
increases risks of miscarriages and stillbirths
causes fetal growth impairment
cuts down the unborn baby's oxygen supply

Second-hand Smoke and Infants

has an effect on the baby's growth
increases an infant's risk of dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Second-hand Smoke and Young Children

causes bronchitis, pneumonia, and middle ear disease
increases both the frequency and severity of childhood asthma
causes emotional stress when children learn that breathing tobacco smoke in their house, school or other indoor public places could make them very sick
children are almost twice as likely to start smoking if their parents smoke

How You Can Protect Children from Second-hand Smoke?

make your home and car smoke-free areas
if you smoke, QUIT. Start with the understanding that smoking is not just a habit. It is an addiction that's very difficult to beat
if you are pregnant, now is an ideal time for you to quit. The healthier you are, the better for your baby
if you find it hard to quit, contact the Nova Scotia Department of Health or visit their website at http://www.gov.ns.ca/health/tcu
encourage and support the management of public places like restaurants, recreation centres and shopping malls to provide a smoke-fee environment
find out about the smoking policy in your child's school and work with school officials to help clear the air
contact your municipal government to pass laws to ban smoking in all indoor public places and workplaces
join community groups that support non-smoking environments for all Nova Scotians.