See how much you know about youth and smoking in Canada. The facts could astound you. Answer true or false to the following statements.
- Almost all adult smokers began smoking before they could legally buy cigarettes.
- The sophistication, fun and glamour messages seen in ads, or in the movies, do not play an important role in getting young people to start smoking.
- Teenagers smoke more than a billion cigarettes a year.
- Children exposed to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) from parents have more childhood illnesses than children in smoke-free homes.
- One out of 10 teens that try smoking get hooked.
- Research has shown that tobacco prevention programs should be taught continuously from kindergarten through high school if students are to lead a smoke-free lifestyle.
Answers
- True. And among teen smokers, females had their first cigarette by approximately the age of 12 and males by the age of 13.
- False. Kids are twice as likely to be influenced by advertising as they are from peer pressure. Young people are three times more likely to smoke if their film heroes smoke.
- True. Teenagers do smoke more than a billion cigarettes a year, resulting in retail sales worth over $400 million. The average teen spends $1,000 per year on cigarettes.
- True. Children exposed to ETS in homes have a higher number of childhood illnesses than children in Smoke-free homes. For example, in Canada there are 2,200 bronchitis hospitalizations, 11,000 ear infections and 180,000 asthma cases per year.
- False. In fact, the number is much higher. Eight out of 10 teens that try smoking get hooked. Seventy percent of 15-19 year-old smokers report at least one attempt to quit smoking over the last 12 months.
- True. Building a foundation in the early grades gives students a head start in gaining an awareness and attitude to shape a healthy lifestyle. A new and innovative smoking prevention program is now available to all elementary and high schools in Ontario through The Lung Association.
