[Intl-tobacco] Health Canada's Tobacco Control Strategy (fwd)

[Robert Weissman]

Health Canada's Tobacco Control Strategy
Source: Health Canada, Thursday, 4/5/01

The Government of Canada will invest over $480 million (including $58
million in existing funding) in Health Canada's Tobacco Control Strategy
over the next five years -- almost five times the investment that was made
in the previous initiative, which is now winding down.

The funding will be allocated to key areas of tobacco control that have
been proven effective both in Canada and other jurisdictions. It will
bolster existing Health Canada programs, while directing $210 million to
mass-media campaigns implemented in partnership with health and advocacy
non-government organizations.

Experience has shown that successful approaches to tobacco control need to
be comprehensive, integrated and sustained, and that high-profile, ongoing
mass-media campaigns are the anchor. The new strategy encompasses all of
these elements as well as clear, achievable targets and evaluation
methods.

10-Year Measurable Targets

To gauge the success of the strategy, the Government of Canada has set out
clear, measurable targets, and will report to the public on the progress
being made. These targets are:

Reduce the number of people who smoke from 25 to 20 per cent of the
population.

Decrease the number of cigarettes sold by 30 per cent.

Increase retailer compliance with tobacco-sales-to-youth laws from 69 to
80 per cent.

Changes in these areas will be measured through ongoing monitoring
activities such as the Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey conducted
for Health Canada by Statistics Canada to provide continual data on
tobacco use in Canada.  Retailer compliance surveys and data gathered from
the tobacco industry under stringent new federal reporting requirements
will also be used. A progress report on activities will be issued in two
years, and a further report will be issued in five years based on the
evaluation of the strategy.

Components of the Strategy

Strategies that have worked well in jurisdictions such as California,
Massachusetts, and British Columbia, show that a combination of various
types of tobacco control efforts, supported by strong and sustained media
campaigns do reduce smoking rates. Successful tobacco control programs
target all ages.

Sustained Mass-Media Campaigns

Approximately 40 per cent of annual funding will be allotted to mass-media
campaigns targeted at Canadians of all age groups, with a special emphasis
on youth and other high-risk populations. They will be carried out in
partnership with stakeholders including national health and tobacco
control organizations.  The mass-media campaigns will strengthen and
support all other tobacco control efforts carried out by Health Canada.

Enhanced Health Canada Tobacco Control Activities

The Tobacco Control Strategy builds upon the activities and directions of
recent years through four mutually reinforcing components: protection,
prevention, cessation and harm reduction.

Protection:

Compliance with Health Canada legislation is a priority, particularly to
ensure that the 40,000 tobacco retailers in Canada don’t sell to youth.

As it has in the past with initiatives such as the new tobacco health
warning messages, research will provide evidence and support for all
programs and any new regulations.

Expertise will be provided to municipalities and others to assist in the
adoption of non-smoking rules and by-laws.

The Government of Canada will continue to defend the Tobacco Act and
Government's position in tobacco-related litigation.

Prevention:

Prevention very much focuses on youth. Resources and activities will be
developed to engage them in developing effective programs and strategies
for their peers.

Health Canada will provide health policy assistance to the Department of
Finance in developing effective tax strategies. Taxation is an important
element of tobacco control, as it has clearly been shown to reduce
consumption, particularly among youth.

The strategy calls for building upon existing web-based and printed
resources to inform health care professionals, teachers and others working
with youth.

Partnerships are critical to the implementation of an integrated program.
The Government of Canada will work with the provinces, territories and
NGOs to build on existing networks, and to enhance the ability of
communities to act on this issue.

Cessation:

In the area of cessation, steps will be taken to address the need for
national standards, including clinical practice guidelines and tools that
engage health professionals in the promotion of smoking cessation.

The strategy aims to enhance public access to programs, resources and
information on best practices.

Harm Reduction:

Despite the best efforts to reduce smoking among Canadians, there are some
who will continue to smoke. Health Canada will continue to exercise its
responsibility to regulate products in such a way as to reduce the risk
from tobacco use. We will work in collaboration with the United States and
other countries to ensure that any changes to the product would have only
positive health impacts on the smoker or those exposed to the smoke.

First Nations and Inuit

The strategy involves a First Nations and Inuit initiative, which is
intended to: influence behaviors and attitudes related to smoking; help
build the capacity of communities to address the health issues around
tobacco use; and improve retailer compliance on reserve, through increased
education.  Consultations will begin immediately with representatives of
First Nations and Inuit associations to determine how best to address the
unique challenges tobacco use causes their communities.  Back to the news
release.