A Comprehensive Tobacco Strategy for Nova Scotia   Update The Province of Nova Scotia launched a Comprehensive Tobacco Strategy in October 2001. The strategy was developed through a process of research and best practice review and stakeholder consultation. The strategy identifies seven key components critical to the success of tobacco control efforts. Taxation Nova Scotia has seen three separate tobacco tax increases since March 2001. Legislation/Policy Bill 125, the Smoke-Free Places Act was passed on May 30, 2002 and comes into effect January 1, 2003. The Act restricts smoking in workplaces and public places, where youth under 19 years of age have access. Treatment/Cessation Funding has been provided to Addiction Services to support the hiring of additional staff dedicated to nicotine addiction treatment programs. Funding has been dedicated to conduct pilot evaluations to demonstrate the efficacy of nicotine addiction treatment programs using a combination of counseling and pharmaceutical cessation aids. The No More Butts! program has been developed and pilot tested. No More Butts! is a peer-led smoking cessation program for high school-aged students and will be available for implementation in Nova Scotia high schools in January 2003. Community-Based Programs Funding has been provided to Public Health Services to support community-based tobacco programs. Youth Prevention Making It Work! Guidelines for Effective Smoke-Free School-Based Policies have been distributed to schools and school boards. Making It Work was developed through the NS School Smoking Prevention Coalition and provides a framework to guide schools through the steps necessary to create or revise school-based smoke-free policy. Smoke-Free for Life curriculum supplements for grades primary-nine have been updated and reprinted. The resources have been sent to district Public Health Services for promotion and distribution to schools. Media/Public Awareness A three-year tobacco control communications campaign has been developed. The Department of Health is partnering with Extreme Group to develop, implement and evaluate this component of the strategy. Monitoring and Evaluation Health Canada has released the results of the Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey (Annual 2001). Nova Scotia experienced a 5% reduction in its overall smoking rate between 2000 and 2001. As part of the media/public awareness plan, a provincial survey will be conducted annually for the next three years to monitor changes in attitude and behaviour.
	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