Post by Dungeon Warden on Aug 14, 2006 22:03:20 GMT -5
Here's a different take on the whole "Why is smoking legal?" issue.
If smoking is so bad for you, why isn't tobacco illegal?
If smoking is so bad for you, why isn't tobacco illegal?
Governments know that making a product illegal doesn't mean people will stop using it. There are better ways to reduce smoking-related harm in Canada.
What's being done to help Canada become smoke-free?
Various governments, organizations and people are working on strategies to reduce smoking-related harm. Their main goals are:
* prevention - preventing young people from starting to smoke
* cessation - helping smokers to quit
* protection - protecting non-smokers from exposure to second-hand smoke
* harm reduction - ordering changes to tobacco products to make them less harmful.
Prevention
Several federal laws are in place to try to help prevent young people from starting smoking:
* Tobacco companies aren't allowed to directly advertise their products. (Tobacco companies often get around this law by sponsoring and advertising sporting or cultural events. They use colors, logos and words similar to those on their cigarette packages.)
* Stores aren't allowed to sell tobacco products to anyone under 18 (or 19 in some provinces).
* Adults aren't allowed to buy tobacco products for minors.
* Tobacco companies must include health warnings on tobacco packages.
There are also several programs available to help prevent youth from taking up smoking and using other harmful substances. For more information, you can check out Health Canada's best practices guide, "Preventing Substance Use Problems Among Young People."
Some Canadian schools offer programs that discourage youth from smoking, but it isn't clear how effective the programs are. Most international researchers believe it's more effective to spend money on prevention programs outside of the school environment.
Cessation
Canadians who are quitting smoking can get help or support from:
* advice from health care providers
* self-help guides
* smokers and ex-smokers support groups
* anti-smoking agents such as the nicotine patch, nicotine gum and the drug Zyban (bupropion), which reduces the craving for nicotine.
For more information about support in your area, contact your local health department. You can also call Telephone Help Lines and link to self-help guides.
Protection
Many Canadian schools are taking steps to protect youth from second-hand smoke. There is no federal law against smoking on school grounds, but most provinces in eastern Canada have banned smoking on school property. This is true in Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Quebec will impose a similar ban in 2006.
In western provinces, individual school districts and school boards make their own smoking policies. Some schools still have outdoor smoking areas on school property. In northern Canada, some schools have smoke-free zones. In Nunavut, for example, smoking is prohibited within 15 metres of school property.
Across Canada, more and more public places and workplaces are becoming smoke-free, or have restricted smoking areas. Some public and workplace smoking bans are the result of federal, provincial or municipal laws. In other cases, the non-smoking policies put in place by individual organizations.
A growing number of health-related organizations are promoting smoke-free private areas, such as houses and vehicles. In 2004, the Ontario Medical Association produced a report outlining ways parents can protect their children from cigarette smoke in their homes and cars. Health Canada has also produced a guide to smoke-free homes. The Clean Air Coalition of British Columbia is advising tenants in multi-unit dwellings on how to deal with smoke from neighbouring apartments.
Last Modified Date: May 2006
The Canadian government has make a major effort to discourage smoking and it is starting to have an effect. Note that Medical Marijuana is legal in Canada as well. O Canada!
If smoking is so bad for you, why isn't tobacco illegal?
If smoking is so bad for you, why isn't tobacco illegal?
Governments know that making a product illegal doesn't mean people will stop using it. There are better ways to reduce smoking-related harm in Canada.
What's being done to help Canada become smoke-free?
Various governments, organizations and people are working on strategies to reduce smoking-related harm. Their main goals are:
* prevention - preventing young people from starting to smoke
* cessation - helping smokers to quit
* protection - protecting non-smokers from exposure to second-hand smoke
* harm reduction - ordering changes to tobacco products to make them less harmful.
Prevention
Several federal laws are in place to try to help prevent young people from starting smoking:
* Tobacco companies aren't allowed to directly advertise their products. (Tobacco companies often get around this law by sponsoring and advertising sporting or cultural events. They use colors, logos and words similar to those on their cigarette packages.)
* Stores aren't allowed to sell tobacco products to anyone under 18 (or 19 in some provinces).
* Adults aren't allowed to buy tobacco products for minors.
* Tobacco companies must include health warnings on tobacco packages.
There are also several programs available to help prevent youth from taking up smoking and using other harmful substances. For more information, you can check out Health Canada's best practices guide, "Preventing Substance Use Problems Among Young People."
Some Canadian schools offer programs that discourage youth from smoking, but it isn't clear how effective the programs are. Most international researchers believe it's more effective to spend money on prevention programs outside of the school environment.
Cessation
Canadians who are quitting smoking can get help or support from:
* advice from health care providers
* self-help guides
* smokers and ex-smokers support groups
* anti-smoking agents such as the nicotine patch, nicotine gum and the drug Zyban (bupropion), which reduces the craving for nicotine.
For more information about support in your area, contact your local health department. You can also call Telephone Help Lines and link to self-help guides.
Protection
Many Canadian schools are taking steps to protect youth from second-hand smoke. There is no federal law against smoking on school grounds, but most provinces in eastern Canada have banned smoking on school property. This is true in Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Quebec will impose a similar ban in 2006.
In western provinces, individual school districts and school boards make their own smoking policies. Some schools still have outdoor smoking areas on school property. In northern Canada, some schools have smoke-free zones. In Nunavut, for example, smoking is prohibited within 15 metres of school property.
Across Canada, more and more public places and workplaces are becoming smoke-free, or have restricted smoking areas. Some public and workplace smoking bans are the result of federal, provincial or municipal laws. In other cases, the non-smoking policies put in place by individual organizations.
A growing number of health-related organizations are promoting smoke-free private areas, such as houses and vehicles. In 2004, the Ontario Medical Association produced a report outlining ways parents can protect their children from cigarette smoke in their homes and cars. Health Canada has also produced a guide to smoke-free homes. The Clean Air Coalition of British Columbia is advising tenants in multi-unit dwellings on how to deal with smoke from neighbouring apartments.
Last Modified Date: May 2006
The Canadian government has make a major effort to discourage smoking and it is starting to have an effect. Note that Medical Marijuana is legal in Canada as well. O Canada!