The Journey TowardsThe Journey Towards Smoke Free Smoke Free

Smoke Free School Smoke Free School GroundsGrounds

Tanya Barnes MatthewsTanya Barnes MatthewsLiving Healthy Schools Living Healthy Schools Conference Conference September September 20072007

The Journey Towards The Journey Towards Smoke FreeSmoke Free

Tobacco Reduction StrategyTobacco Reduction StrategyAlliance for the Control of TobaccoAlliance for the Control of TobaccoA Dozen Reasons WhyA Dozen Reasons WhyThe First YearThe First YearThe Journey ContinuesThe Journey ContinuesThe Road Ahead!The Road Ahead!

Provincial Tobacco Provincial Tobacco Reduction StrategyReduction Strategy

Tobacco is the leading cause of Tobacco is the leading cause of death & disabilitydeath & disability

Meant to provide direction for Meant to provide direction for government and non-government government and non-government health organizations and partners for health organizations and partners for comprehensive tobacco reduction comprehensive tobacco reduction initiatives for 2005-2008initiatives for 2005-2008

The Newfoundland & The Newfoundland & Labrador Alliance for the Labrador Alliance for the

Control of TobaccoControl of Tobacco

Four main goals:Four main goals:Prevention – preventing people from Prevention – preventing people from

starting to smokestarting to smokeProtection – Protecting people from the Protection – Protecting people from the

harmful effects of SHSharmful effects of SHSCessation –helping smokers quit smoking Cessation –helping smokers quit smoking

and remain smoke freeand remain smoke freeDenormalization – positioning smoking so Denormalization – positioning smoking so

that it is no longer the norm in society that it is no longer the norm in society

A Dozen Good Reasons…A Dozen Good Reasons…

1.1. Tobacco killsTobacco kills

2.2. Tobacco is a Tobacco is a drugdrug

3.3. Tobacco is Tobacco is addictiveaddictive

4.4. Second hand Second hand smoke killssmoke kills

These too…These too…

5.5. Opportunity Opportunity knocks!knocks!

6.6. Gateway drugGateway drug

7.7. Conflicting Conflicting messagesmessages

8.8. Perception of Perception of social social acceptanceacceptance

And don’t forget these…And don’t forget these…

9.9. Reality check – Reality check – Smoke free workSmoke free work

10.10. Laws prohibit Laws prohibit youth purchasingyouth purchasing

11.11. Liability issuesLiability issues12. It’s the right

thing to do!

A journey of a thousand A journey of a thousand steps…steps…

September 2006 all 5 school regions September 2006 all 5 school regions voluntarily adopted a smoke free voluntarily adopted a smoke free school grounds policyschool grounds policy

Much work and advocacy had been Much work and advocacy had been invested in creating a climate that was invested in creating a climate that was ready for this stepready for this step

TROY 2006TROY 2006Healthy Students Healthy Schools Summit Healthy Students Healthy Schools Summit

20062006Smoke-free Activist Tool-kit Pilot 2005Smoke-free Activist Tool-kit Pilot 2005

799 steps left to go…799 steps left to go…

Informing the public was an important Informing the public was an important component of the implementationcomponent of the implementation

Alliance for the Control Of Tobacco (ACT) took a Alliance for the Control Of Tobacco (ACT) took a lead role in a promotional campaign announcing lead role in a promotional campaign announcing and supporting smoke free school grounds and supporting smoke free school grounds

Radio & Newspaper adsRadio & Newspaper ads

Going a little furtherGoing a little further

A survey was conducted in the fall A survey was conducted in the fall with school administrators:with school administrators:

They needed support to communicate the They needed support to communicate the message to their students, parents and message to their students, parents and general publicgeneral public

ACT responded:ACT responded:““Welcome to our Tobacco Free School” Welcome to our Tobacco Free School”

banners were supplied to all schools, printed banners were supplied to all schools, printed in English & French.in English & French.

Media blitzMedia blitz

ACT coordinated a mass media ACT coordinated a mass media campaign to keep the focus on youth campaign to keep the focus on youth and to keep messages consistent and to keep messages consistent (December - March)(December - March)

Be Free – Smoke FreeBe Free – Smoke FreeTelevision & Print adsTelevision & Print ads

Stepping up to the front lineStepping up to the front line

Resources to support being 100% Resources to support being 100% smoke free within schools:smoke free within schools:

Smoke Free Schoolyards Initiatives CD (Jr. & Smoke Free Schoolyards Initiatives CD (Jr. & Sr. High)Sr. High)

Prevention education resourcesPrevention education resources Grades 7 – 9 Smoke Free Activist Tool KitGrades 7 – 9 Smoke Free Activist Tool Kit Grades 4 – 6 Science, Tobacco & YouGrades 4 – 6 Science, Tobacco & You Grades K – 3 Smoke Free Colouring Book Grades K – 3 Smoke Free Colouring Book

Walking in their shoes…Walking in their shoes…

Cessation Support for students:Cessation Support for students:Kick the NicKick the NicSmoker’s Helpline introduces Smoker’s Helpline introduces

Schools’ CARE ProgramSchools’ CARE Program

The CARE ProgramThe CARE Program

How it WorksHow it Works

AskAsk if the student smokes if the student smokes

AdviseAdvise that they should quit and receive support that they should quit and receive support

ReferRefer them to the Newfoundland and Labrador SHL them to the Newfoundland and Labrador SHL

CompleteComplete referral form referral form onlineonline at at www.smokershelp.netwww.smokershelp.net – – available Nov 1, 2006available Nov 1, 2006

EmailEmail Hit send! – SHL will email the student to set up Hit send! – SHL will email the student to set up counseling and referral to other cessation services.counseling and referral to other cessation services.

Check Point – End of year 1Check Point – End of year 1 A second survey of A second survey of

principals revealed:principals revealed: Smoking students Smoking students

moved to edge of moved to edge of propertypropertyStill in full view of Still in full view of

schoolschoolSchool still has a School still has a

smoking problemsmoking problem Parents & visitors not Parents & visitors not

always adhering to always adhering to policypolicy

After – school users not After – school users not always compliantalways compliant

The Journey Continues - The Journey Continues - 20072007

ACT’s Support Plan ACT’s Support Plan Outdoor signage for all schoolsOutdoor signage for all schoolsBrochure to target smoking teensBrochure to target smoking teensTips on how to increase compliance of parents Tips on how to increase compliance of parents

& visitors& visitors

Dept. of Health & Community ServicesDept. of Health & Community ServicesRoundtable on Youth Cessation Roundtable on Youth Cessation (Research, Policy & (Research, Policy &

Practice)Practice)

Health Canada ProposalHealth Canada ProposalDevelop School Cessation Protocols Develop School Cessation Protocols (Range of (Range of

Interventions)Interventions)

SMOKE FREEGROUNDS

     

The Road Ahead…The Road Ahead…

Continued vigilanceContinued vigilance Cessation Cessation supportsupport

Prevention Prevention DenormalizationDenormalization

A Long Road Ahead…A Long Road Ahead…

% of population aged 12 + who are current smokers

0

20

40

Stats Canada, CCHS

2000 -20012003

2005

2000 -2001 30.8 29.3

2003 26.5 23.8

2005 25 23.4

western NL

A Closer Look at GirlsA Closer Look at Girls

Smoking Trends Females aged 12+

0

20

40

60

80

daily smoker 31 24.9 21 22.2

occasionalsmoker

3.9 3.9 3.7

initiation age <19 61.6 60.7 71.6

initiation age <15 9.2 13.2 20.4

1995 2001 2003 2005

A Closer look at BoysA Closer look at Boys

0

20

40

60

80

100

Smoking trends: Males

Current smoker

OccasionalSmokerInitiation age<19Initiation age<15

Current smoker 32 30.2 20.8 19.7

Occasional Smoker 3.9 6.6 4

Initiation age <19 83.7 72.1 86.3

Initiation age <15 26.4 22.1 22.5

1995 2001 2003 2005

Next steps:

Smoke free sport/recreation areasSmoke free sport/recreation areas NS already there!NS already there!

POS advertising POS advertising Smoke free entrances at post-secondary Smoke free entrances at post-secondary

institutions (MUN)institutions (MUN) Smoke free hospital groundsSmoke free hospital grounds

365 steps to go…

Tobacco control is a community Tobacco control is a community concern – there’s a role for everyone concern – there’s a role for everyone to playto play

We’re happy to be working with We’re happy to be working with schools to make Newfoundland and schools to make Newfoundland and Labrador a healthier provinceLabrador 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…Your Story…

What has been your school’s What has been your school’s experience with implementing the experience with implementing the smoke free grounds policy?smoke free grounds policy?

How has the community responded How has the community responded to smoke free school grounds?to smoke free school grounds?

What additional support or resources What additional support or resources would you like to have available?would you like to have available?

Other comments or questions….Other comments or questions….