Anti-Tobacco Strategy - Tobacco Free Living...Reasons to Act
A change towards a common good. A common approach to a serious issue. By pooling resources, expertise, knowledge, and experience, by drawing on each other’s strengths, all New Brunswick citizens will witness a positive change.
We need you to affect this change. We need you to make a difference in your community. We need you to help us reach every child, every worker, every citizen and every community throughout New Brunswick. We need you to help us stamp out the use of tobacco industry products. To do this, we ask you to join the New Brunswick Anti-Tobacco Coalition (NBATC).
Click here to view our strategy which was revised in 2009- NBATC Strategy |
Reasons to Act Progress in reducing overall prevalence of tobacco use has stalled in New Brunswick and across the country. This is an alarming trend because tobacco use remains the number one cause of preventable death and disease. Annually, tobacco kills approximately 1,100 New Brunswick Citizens. It contributes to the development of all major chronic diseases and is the only consumer product that causes disease, disability and death when used exactly as intended. Nationally, more than 37,000 Canadians die from tobacco use each year. Tobacco use kills more people each year than alcohol, suicide, car crashes, illegal drugs, second hand smoke and murder combined.
Tobacco use is not only a provincial and national crisis but it is referred to as a global pandemic. Addiction to nicotine is the most common addiction and worldwide nearly 100,000 children and adolescents become addicted each day. The consequence of this addiction is a global toll of premature, often painful death, preceded by sometimes years of chronic disability. The World Health Organization estimates that if tobacco use trends continue through to the year 2030 tobacco will kill more than 8 million annually.
The US Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Tobacco Use identifies that there is no risk free level of exposure to second-hand smoke. Recently, third-hand smoke was identified as another source of harm caused by tobacco smoke. Furthermore, the production and eventual disposal of tobacco products have detrimental effects on the environment.
The consequences of tobacco use also reach beyond disease, disability and death. For example, tobacco use has also been associated with decreases in student academic achievement and motivation. Students that use tobacco are at increased risk of dropping out of school. Tobacco use is more predictive of dropping out than marijuana use or alcohol use. Other risk behaviours have also been associated with using tobacco at an early age.
New Brunswick can make a positive difference and reduce the detrimental effects of tobacco use. Tobacco-free living plays a key role in developing a better stronger and more prosperous province. However, the greatest impact will only been realized once every stakeholder identifies a role to play and takes action!
Take a Role, Take Action! Tobacco use is a universal concern regardless of the context in which you live, work or play. It is a pervasive public health problem that requires action on all fronts. We must work together, become partners and build synergy to increase the number of New Brunswickers living free of tobacco exposure and tobacco use. Together we can develop and implement coordinated actions that contribute to the vision and mission of the NBATC and partner organizations. Coordinated actions will contribute to the development of resilient youth, healthier communities, workplaces, schools, homes and individuals. By pooling resources, expertise, knowledge and experience, New Brunswick will make positive changes in the tobacco use issue.
You can play a role, there are many reasons to act! You are encouraged to review the Goals and Objectives of the NB Anti-Tobacco Strategy and identify an area of interest. The NBATC can help you to identify ways to incorporate Tobacco-free living actions into your work or into efforts already underway.
Action Highlights Undertaken by NBATC Members
Supported legislation on Smoke Free Public Places and Workplaces. New Brunswick became one of the first provinces in Canada to ban smoking in all enclosed public places and indoor work places in 2004. In 2009 the Smoke Free Public Places Act was amended to ban smoking in vehicles with children under the age of 16, this will become effective January 1, 2010.
Supported amendments to Tobacco Sales Act. In 2009 retail displays were banned.
Commissioned “Economic Impact of Smoke-Free Places: An Assessment for New Brunswick” and “The Cost of Smoking in NB and the Economics of Tobacco Control”.
Promoted enhanced tobacco-free sport program which encourages the adoption of tobacco-free policies by sport organizations.
Encouraged adoption of an integrated cessation continuum and additional services such as Smokers’ Helpline.
Carried out New Brunswick Student Wellness Survey which includes data collection on knowledge attitudes and behaviours regarding tobacco use in NB youth In the context of overall wellness.
Implemented Workplace Wellness Awards Program which includes a Tobacco-Free Living component.
Hosted annual forums for stakeholder skills and knowledge development.
Developed linkages with other national and provincial health related coalitions and organizations to promote alignment of efforts (e.g. Healthy Eating Physical Activity Coalition)
Support implementation of comprehensive school health actions through Tobacco Free Schools grant program to high schools.
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