Smoke-Free Generation

Our Vision: A Smoke-Free Generation in Nova Scotia

 

Our goal is to make Nova Scotia a leader in reducing commercial tobacco and nicotine use, where future generations are never able to purchase commercial tobacco or nicotine products.

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A Smoke-Free Generation in Nova Scotia

Commercial tobacco and nicotine use, including vaping, pose significant health risks at any level. The Smoke-Free Generation (SFG) initiative proposes a ban on the sale of these products to individuals born on or after a designated date. By incrementally raising the legal purchasing age for tobacco and vaping products each year, we aim to cultivate a generation that has never had access to these harmful substances, gradually eliminating their use in our society.

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Why Implement SFG?

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The Impact of Smoking and Vaping in Nova Scotia

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in Nova Scotia, with a huge number of deaths annually attributed to tobacco use. The economic toll is also staggering, with healthcare costs and lost productivity amounting to approximately $170 million each year.

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Although significant strides have been made in reducing smoking rates since the 20th century, progress has slowed significantly over the last decade in Nova Scotia and across Canada. Traditional tobacco control measures are no longer as effective, and the rising popularity of vaping, especially among youth, threatens the advancements we've achieved.

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The Tobacco Endgame

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The federal government aims to reduce smoking prevalence to less than 5% by 2035. At our current pace, Nova Scotia is unlikely to meet this target.

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To decisively end the tobacco epidemic, we need bold, transformative measures. LungNSPEI, along with other lung health organizations, is advocating for a groundbreaking policy designed to prevent young people from ever starting to use tobacco or vaping products. This initiative has the potential to propel us not only towards the federal goal of 5% by 2035 but to eradicate tobacco and nicotine use entirely.

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A Comprehensive Strategy for a Tobacco Endgame

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The Smoke-Free Generation initiative is a critical element of a broader strategy to phase out tobacco and nicotine use. However, additional policies are essential to achieve a nicotine use prevalence of less than 5% by 2035 in Nova Scotia.

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LungNSPEI's is also advocating for the following:

• Enhanced cessation support for individuals addicted to tobacco, including system-wide access to free NRTs and counselling

• Reducing nicotine content in cigarettes and other tobacco products

• Limiting the number of tobacco retailers across the province

• Increasing investment and capacity in upstream approaches to address underlying factors impacting smoking and vaping rates

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The Smoke-Free Generation will be the first initiative of its kind in Canada, setting a precedent for a healthier, nicotine-free future.