Nova Scotia Tobacco Facts   Tobacco use remains Nova Scotia’s number one cause of preventable illness and death. This year, approximately 1,650 Nova Scotians will die from smoking related illnesses. 25% of Nova Scotians aged 15 and over currently smoke, compared to 22% of Canadians. 27.6% of pregnant women in Nova Scotia smoke. 23% of junior- and senior-high school students smoke according to the 2002 Nova Scotia Student Drug Survey. This is a decrease from 36% in 1998. The average age of a person who smokes their first cigarette in Nova Scotia is 12.7 years of age. Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances known. About eight out of every 10 people who try smoking get hooked. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Nova Scotia. 85% of all lung cancer cases in Nova Scotia are due to tobacco. Tobacco costs the Nova Scotian health care system $168 million a year in direct costs and accounts for more than 6% of provincial health care spending. Second-Hand Smoke There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke. Over 4000 chemicals have been identified in second-hand smoke and at least 50 of these cause cancer. 200 Nova Scotians die from exposure to second-hand smoke. Second-hand smoke is the third largest cause of lung cancer. A nonsmoker whose spouse smokes has a 30% greater chance of developing lung cancer than a person whose spouse doesn’t smoke. Second-hand smoke is the leading cause of workplace related death Food service workers have a 50% higher rate of lung cancer than the general population. Studies indicate that 100% smoking bans are not bad for business. The economy loses $358 million in productivity losses due to premature death and absenteeism.
	Health Promotion Clearinghouse Toll Free 1-877-890-5094 Locally 494-1917 Fax 1-902-494-3594 Suite 209, City Centre Atlantic 1535 Dresden Row Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3T1 hpclearinghouse@dal.ca