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May 31 is World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), an occasion to draw attention to the harms of commercial tobacco use and to encourage quit attempts among people who smoke or vape. It is important to recognize the distinction between harmful commercial tobacco and traditional tobacco, which is sacred to many Indigenous Peoples, and used in cultural ceremonies, prayers, and offerings.
This year’s WNTD theme set by the World Health Organization is “Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products”. The tobacco industry consists of multinational corporations that manufacture and market cigarettes and other nicotine products, such as vaping devices and nicotine pouches. The industry is widely criticized for disreputable business practices and its role in the smoking epidemic. Just this year, a historic case was settled in Canada, in which an Ontario court approved a $32 billion compensation payout from three tobacco companies to provinces, territories, and Canadians who smoked, for knowingly deceiving the public and failing to prevent harm.
Despite progress made in lowering smoking rates in Canada over the past 50 years, smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease and premature death. In Ontario, dependence on commercial tobacco claims the lives of over 16,000 people each year; more than alcohol, overdose, homicide, and traffic accidents combined. Holding the tobacco industry accountable is an important step in reducing smoking rates and preventing the initiation of, and addiction to, nicotine products among young people.
This WNTD, you can access resources to support quit attempts and provide education about manipulative industry tactics. Public health units throughout the province have collaborated through the Ontario Nicotine Dependence Structure to develop these programs:
Don’t Quit Quitting: An online tool for Ontario adults who want to quit smoking or vaping, with easy-to-understand information and supports to help people quit for good.
Not an Experiment: Resources for educators, parents, and youth to prevent the initiation and escalation of vaping among youth in Grades 7 to 12.
Brief Conversations Toolkit: Information for adults who engage with youth who vape, offering guidance to support healthy behaviour change. Developed by Ontario public health units and the Lung Health Foundation.
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For interviews: media@healthunit.org
Katie Lamb (she/her)
Multimedia Specialist – Social Media
South East Health Unit
formerly Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit
613-345-5685 x 2285
healthunit.org
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