Transcript The Journey Towards Smoke Free

The Journey Towards
Smoke Free
Smoke Free School Grounds
Tanya Barnes Matthews
Living Healthy Schools Conference
September 2007
The Journey Towards
Smoke Free
Tobacco Reduction Strategy
 Alliance for the Control of Tobacco
 A Dozen Reasons Why
 The First Year
 The Journey Continues
 The Road Ahead!

Provincial Tobacco Reduction
Strategy
Tobacco is the leading cause of death & disability
 Meant to provide direction for government and
non-government health organizations and partners
for comprehensive tobacco reduction initiatives for
2005-2008

The Newfoundland & Labrador
Alliance for the Control of
Tobacco

Four main goals:
 Prevention – preventing people from starting to smoke
 Protection – Protecting people from the harmful effects of
SHS
 Cessation –helping smokers quit smoking and remain
smoke free
 Denormalization – positioning smoking so that it is no
longer the norm in society
A Dozen Good Reasons…
1.
2.
3.
4.
Tobacco kills
Tobacco is a drug
Tobacco is addictive
Second hand smoke
kills
These too…
5.
6.
7.
8.
Opportunity
knocks!
Gateway drug
Conflicting
messages
Perception of social
acceptance
And don’t forget these…
9.
10.
11.
12.
Reality check – Smoke
free work
Laws prohibit youth
purchasing
Liability issues
It’s the right thing to do!
A journey of a thousand steps…
September 2006 all 5 school regions voluntarily
adopted a smoke free school grounds policy
 Much work and advocacy had been invested in
creating a climate that was ready for this step

 TROY 2006
 Healthy Students Healthy Schools Summit 2006
 Smoke-free Activist Tool-kit Pilot 2005
799 steps left to go…

Informing the public was an important component
of the implementation
 Alliance for the Control Of Tobacco (ACT) took a lead role in
a promotional campaign announcing and supporting smoke
free school grounds
 Radio & Newspaper ads
Going a little further

A survey was conducted in the fall with school
administrators:
 They needed support to communicate the message to their
students, parents and general public

ACT responded:
 “Welcome to our Tobacco Free School”
banners were
supplied to all schools, printed in English & French.
Media blitz

ACT coordinated a mass media campaign to keep
the focus on youth and to keep messages consistent
(December - March)
 Be Free – Smoke Free
 Television & Print ads
Stepping up to the front line

Resources to support being 100% smoke free
within schools:
 Smoke Free Schoolyards Initiatives CD (Jr. & Sr. High)
 Prevention education resources



Grades 7 – 9 Smoke Free Activist Tool Kit
Grades 4 – 6 Science, Tobacco & You
Grades K – 3 Smoke Free Colouring Book
Walking in their shoes…

Cessation Support for students:
 Kick the Nic
 Smoker’s Helpline introduces Schools’ CARE
Program
The CARE Program
How it Works

Ask if the student smokes

Advise that they should quit and receive support

Refer them to the Newfoundland and Labrador SHL

Complete referral form online at
www.smokershelp.net – available Nov 1, 2006

Email Hit send! – SHL will email the student to set up
counseling and referral to other cessation services.
Check Point – End of year 1

A second survey of principals
revealed:
 Smoking students moved to
edge of property
 Still in full view of school
 School still has a smoking
problem
 Parents & visitors not always
adhering to policy
 After – school users not always
compliant
The Journey Continues - 2007

ACT’s Support Plan
 Outdoor signage for all schools
 Brochure to target smoking teens
 Tips on how to increase compliance of

parents & visitors
Dept. of Health & Community Services
 Roundtable on Youth Cessation (Research, Policy & Practice)

Health Canada Proposal
 Develop School Cessation Protocols (Range of Interventions)
SMOKE FREE
GROUNDS
The Road Ahead…
Continued vigilance
Prevention
Cessation support
Denormalization
A Long Road Ahead…
% of population aged 12 + who are
current smokers
40
2000 2001
2003
20
0
2005
western
NL
2000 -2001
30.8
29.3
2003
26.5
23.8
2005
25
23.4
Stats Canada, CCHS
A Closer Look at Girls
Smoking Trends Females aged 12+
80
60
40
20
0
1995
2001
2003
2005
31
24.9
21
22.2
occasional
smoker
3.9
3.9
3.7
initiation age <19
61.6
60.7
71.6
initiation age <15
9.2
13.2
20.4
daily smoker
A Closer look at Boys
Smoking trends: Males
100
Current smoker
80
Occasional
Smoker
Initiation age
<19
Initiation age
<15
60
40
20
0
1995
2001
2003
2005
32
30.2
20.8
19.7
3.9
6.6
4
Initiation age <19
83.7
72.1
86.3
Initiation age <15
26.4
22.1
22.5
Current smoker
Occasional Smoker
Next steps:

Smoke free sport/recreation areas




NS already there!
POS advertising
Smoke free entrances at post-secondary institutions
(MUN)
Smoke free hospital grounds
365 steps to go…

Tobacco control is a community concern – there’s a
role for everyone to play

We’re happy to be working with schools to make
Newfoundland and Labrador a healthier province.
We, as parents, and society do not
want our children exposed to
asbestos, mould or lead, so why are
smoking and second hand smoke
any different?
Your Story…
What has been your school’s experience with
implementing the smoke free grounds policy?
 How has the community responded to smoke free
school grounds?
 What additional support or resources would you
like to have available?
 Other comments or questions….
