National Non Smoking Week

National Non Smoking Week January 18-24, 2009

The theme of National Non-Smoking Week, January 18 - 24, 2009 is - What have you got to lose?

Why do we continue to be concerned about tobacco use?

Tobacco use remains the most significant cause of preventable disease, disability, and premature death in Canada, responsible for more than 37,000 deaths every year. This figure includes those who have lost their lives in smoking related fires. This issue was deemed serious enough to warrant regulation under the Tobacco Act to mandate reduced ignition propensity cigarettes (RIP). Smoking related fire deaths is a subject oft neglected in tobacco control.

Collaboration with the Fire Marshal’s Public Safety Council

CCTC is partnering with the Fire Marshal’s Public Safety Council to launch a smoking related fire deaths awareness campaign in 2009. Smoking related fire deaths account for approximately 50% of all loss of life due to fires in the home. Their campaign goals are to educate Canadians that:

• smoking has been the # 1 cause of fire deaths for decades
• fires caused by cigarettes and other smoking materials are preventable
• if people must smoke that they smoke more safely

NNSW has been observed for more than 30 years and is one of the longest running and most important events in the Canadian Council for Tobacco Control (CCTC) ongoing public education efforts regarding the consequences of tobacco use.

The goals for National Non-Smoking Week are:

• to educate Canadians about the dangers of smoking
• to prevent people who do not smoke from beginning to smoke and becoming addicted to tobacco
• to help people quit smoking
• to promote the right of individuals to breathe air unpolluted by tobacco smoke
• to denormalize the tobacco industry, tobacco industry marketing practices, tobacco products, and tobacco use
• to assist in the attainment of a smoke-free society in Canada