Government of Canada and Canadian Cancer Society Promote National Anti-Smoking Campaign

Young adults encouraged to end their "bad relationship" with smoking

OTTAWA, Sept. 23, 2014 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada and the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) have launched the second tour of Break It Off, a joint tobacco cessation, awareness and outreach campaign aimed at young Canadians. This tour is part of the Government of Canada's multi-year $4.8 million investment to help young adults quit smoking and stay smoke-free.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, Eve Adams promoted a national anti-smoking campaign at Carleton University in Ottawa today. The multi-year campaign targets young adult smokers aged 20-24, who have a higher rate of smoking than the general population. The Break It Off campaign encourages young adult smokers to "break off" their bad relationship with smoking and stay smoke-free.

New to the campaign is a Break It Off Facebook Event Listing on the Healthy Canadians Facebook page, where users can find out when the campaign will have local events in their community, post content on smoking cessation and engage with others who are trying to quit. Users can download a mobile app from the campaign website to track and share their progress with quitting smoking through Facebook, including the number of cigarettes they have reduced since quitting. The website also allows visitors to connect with others who are trying to quit or who have already quit and access additional support such as counselling.

This campaign will travel across Canada until November. For information on events in your area visit the Break It Off website or the Break It Off Facebook Event Listing.  

Quick Facts

• The current smoking rate among Canadians (aged 15 years and older) is at an all-time low of 16% versus 20% for young adult smokers aged 20-24.
• The Government of Canada has invested more than $650 million to help Canadians quit smoking and to prevent Canadians from starting to smoke.
• Canadians needing support to quit smoking can call a quit coach through the toll-free pan-Canadian quitline at 1-866-366-3667 or visit Healthy Canadians online.

Quotes

"Twenty per cent of Canadian young adults aged 20-24 smoke, though smoking is at an all-time low, we can do better and encourage more people to quit. Staying smoke-free is one of the single best things an individual can do to improve his or her health.  I am proud to promote this national campaign to protect and improve their health."
Eve Adams
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health

Associated Links

Break It Off 
Break It Off – Mobile App 
Facebook Break It Off Event Page 
Healthy Canadians – Smoking & Tobacco 
Healthy Canadians – You Can Quit Smoking 
Quit4Life 
On the Road to Quitting Guides to Becoming a Non-Smoker

Health Canada news releases are available on the Internet at: www.healthcanada.gc.ca/media

 

SOURCE: Health Canada

Contacts: Michael Bolkenius, Office of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Federal Minister of Health, [phone]; Health Canada, Media Relations, [phone]; Public Inquiries: [phone], 1-866 225-0709