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Print | YORK REGION>Services>Public Health and Safety>Tobacco Free Living |
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Prevention of Tobacco Use
Youth
In a group of one thousand 20-year-olds who smoke, half will die from smoking if they were to continue to smoke.
Children and youth do not think that smoking will hurt them and feel that they can quit at anytime. Many do not know that the addiction to nicotine is stronger than the addiction to heroin.
The Tobacco Industry is very aggressive in marketing their products to youth. Smokeless tobacco such as chew or snuff has been specifically marketed to youth through colourful, "cool" brands and "fun" flavours such as mint, cinnamon, peach and vanilla. It's concerning that the tobacco industry markets these products in ways that make them appealing to youth.
Smokeless tobacco is not a safe alternative to cigarettes.
Tobacco even has a presence in film. Seventy percent of PG and PG-13 rated movies have smoking images in them.
It is important that youth receive the same messages whether at home, at school or in the community. The tobacco-free sports and recreation toolkit called Play, Live, Be…Tobacco-Free provides information, resources and assists community members with policy development and review.
Click Programs, Services, Resources for a listing of youth-centered links.
For more information or to speak with a Public Health Nurse, please contact:
