January 18-24 (Weedless Wednesday January 21)
National Non-Smoking Week is Canada's largest, most experienced and successful
public education campaign on controlling tobacco use. The important goals
of National Non-Smoking Week are:
• to educate Canadians about the many dangers associated with
tobacco use
• to prevent people from becoming addicted
• to help smokers quit and
• to ensure a smoke-free environment for non-smokers
Weedless Wednesday promotes a smoke-free day and reminds smokers of programs
that are available year-round to help them become non-smokers. Please contact
Smoke-Free Nova Scotia for information about treatment and support services
available throughout Nova Scotia.
In Nova Scotia, this year's campaign will focus information for young
people, parents and coaches to raise awareness about the true cost of tobacco.
Every day tobacco kills more than five Nova Scotians through lung, heart
and cancer diseases. S econd-hand smoke kills an estimated 200 Nova Scotians
each year. Smoking is the number one cause of preventable death-if you
don't smoke you help to prevent disease. Tobacco costs the Nova Scotia
health care system $168 million every year and the Nova Scotia economy
more than half a billion dollars.
The Coalition members of Smoke-Free Nova Scotia are committed to the goals
and objectives of National Non-Smoking Week through the implementation
of the Nova Scotia Tobacco Control Strategy.
To find out how you can help reduce the cost of tobacco in Nova Scotia,
please contact Catherine Cole, Public Awareness Coordinator, Smoke-Free
Nova Scotia 864-9633 (Metro) or toll free at 1-866-777-7374 .
Check us out on the web at www.smokefreens.ca
What You(th) Should Know About Tobacco
Tobacco and Athletes
- Nicotine in cigarettes, cigars, and spit tobacco is addictive.
- Nicotine narrows your blood vessels and puts added strain on your heart.
- Smoking can wreck your lungs and limit oxygen available to your muscles
during sports.
- Smokers suffer shortness of breath - almost 3 times more often than
nonsmokers.
- Smokers run slower and can't run as far.
- Cigars and spit tobacco are NOT safe alternatives.
- Spit tobacco contains more nicotine than cigarettes.
- Spit tobacco has over 3,000 chemicals, including 28 chemicals known
to cause cancer.
Tobacco and Personal Appearance
- Yuck! Tobacco smoke makes your hair and clothes stink.
- Tobacco stains teeth and causes bad breath.
- Even brief use of spit tobacco can cause cracked lips, white spots,
sores, and bleeding in the mouth.
- Surgery to remove mouth cancers caused by tobacco use can lead to serious
changes in your face.
- Half of all mouth cancer victims die within five years.
- Sean Marcee was a high school star athlete who used spit tobacco. He
died of mouth cancer when he was 19 years old.
So. . .
- Know the truth and don't believe all the tobacco use on TV, in movies,
music videos, billboards and magazines. Most teens, adults and athletes
DON'T use tobacco.
- Make friends. Be active and independent... play sports.
- Don't waste your money on tobacco. Spend it on CD's, clothes, computer
games, and movies.
- Get involved! Make your team, school, and home tobacco-free
- Join your community's efforts to prevent tobacco use.
PARENTS -HELP KEEP YOUR KIDS TOBACCO-FREE
- Kids who use tobacco may .
• Cough and have asthma attacks more often, develop lung problems
and have poorer athletic performance.
• Be more likely to use alcohol and other drugs such as cocaine
and marijuana.
• Become addicted to tobacco and find it extremely hard to
quit.
- "Light" or low-tar cigarettes, spit tobacco and cigars are NOT safe
alternatives to cigarettes.
Take a Stand at Home-Early and Often
- Despite the impact of TV, movies and music, YOU can be the greatest
influence in your kid's lives.
- Talk directly to your kids about the risks of tobacco. If friends or
relatives died from tobacco-related illnesses, let your kids know.
- If you use tobacco, you can still make a difference. Your best move
is to try to quit. Meanwhile, don't use tobacco around your kids, don't
offer it to them and don't leave it where they can easily get it.
- Start talking about the dangers of tobacco use at age 5 or 6. Keep
talking about it. Many kids start using tobacco by age 11, and many are
addicted by age 14.
- Know if your kids' friends use tobacco. Talk about ways to say no to
tobacco.
- Talk to your kids about the tobacco they see in movies, magazines,
TV, billboards and videos. Let them know it is not cool to smoke.
Make a Difference in Your Community
- Vote with your pocketbook. Support businesses that don't sell tobacco
to kids. Go to restaurants and other places that are tobacco-free.
- Be sure your school and all school events (dances, sporting events,
etc.) are tobacco-free.
- Become a tobacco-free role model for the children in your life.
- If you are pregnant, NOW is a great time to quit for the health of
your baby
- Partner with your local tobacco prevention programs. Call Smoke-Free
Nova Scotia to learn how you can get involved .
Coaches-You Can Influence if Kids Use Tobacco
- Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death-don't smoke
and you help prevent heart and lung diseases, cancers, and strokes.
- Smoking slows lung growth, decreases lung function, and reduces the
oxygen available for muscles used in sports.
- Smokers suffer from shortness of breath almost 3 times more often than
nonsmokers.
- Nicotine is addictive in ways like heroin and cocaine.
- Young people who use tobacco may be more likely to use alcohol and
other drugs such as cocaine and marijuana.
- "Light" or low-tar cigarettes, spit tobacco and cigars are not safe
alternatives to cigarettes.
- Young people who do not use tobacco by age 18 will probably never start.
Take a Stand-Early and Often
- Recognize your influence with young people. Don't use tobacco around
your players. Remind them of the importance of being tobacco-free.
- When talking to players, remember they relate more to messages about
the immediate effects of tobacco use (such as poor athletic performance)
than to its long-term health threats.
- Adopt and enforce a tobacco-free policy for players, coaches, and referees.
- Send a copy of the tobacco-free policy home for parents to review.
- Make all practices, games, and competitions tobacco-free-on the field,
sidelines and in the stands.
- Announce and display tobacco-free messages at games.
- Consider partnering with your local tobacco prevention programs. Voice
your support for tobacco-free schools, sports, and other community events.
