Minister Hajdu sets out $4.8M to help Canadians stop smoking

Minister Hajdu sets out $4.8M to help Canadians stop smoking. 2016-17 vaping among students has doubled

Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of premature death and disease in Canada. Although progress has been made over the years to reduce tobacco use among Canadians, it continues to be a significant public health problem. Troubling trends of vaping among youth, which poses risks to the health of young Canadians, and can also lead to nicotine addiction.

To mark World No Tobacco Day, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, announced nearly $4.8 million in funding for organizations across Canada to develop programs and services that will help stop tobacco use among Canadians, and reduce youth vaping.

• According to the most recent Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey (CSTADS):
  • in 2018-19, the prevalence of current daily smoking decreased among students in grades 7 to 12 to 0.9% (approximately 19,000) from 1.3% in 2016-17.
  • the prevalence of vaping among students has doubled since 2016-2017. In fact, 20% of students had vaped within thirty days of being surveyed.
• According to the most recent Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey (CTADS), in 2017, 18% (5.3 million) of Canadians aged 15 years and older had used at least one tobacco product in the past 30 days, an increase from 15% in 2015. In 2017, the prevalence of current cigarette smoking was 15% (4.6 million) among Canadians aged 15+ years.

“The Government of Canada knows the significant health harms associated with smoking and youth vaping, which is why we continue to implement Canada’s Tobacco Strategy. We’ve invested close to $330-million in this strategy, which aims to reduce tobacco use to less than 5% by 2035, to help Canadians quit smoking and to continue to protect young people and non-smokers from nicotine addiction.

Smoking and tobacco use continues to be a leading cause of death in Canada, and even more troubling is the rise in vaping and nicotine addiction among Canadian youth. World No Tobacco Day is an opportunity to remind everyone about the serious health risks associated with smoking and vaping, and about the steps we are taking to help those who want to stop using tobacco. We have taken steps forward, but we must continue our work to prevent tobacco-related harms and to reduce vaping among Canadian youth.” The Honourable Patty Hajdu
Minister of Health

Quitting smoking and using tobacco is not easy, and those who want to quit don’t have to do it alone. The government will work in partnership with organizations across the country to reduce vaping among youth and to keep all Canadians safe and healthy. 

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