The Future of Tobacco Control in Canada

Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in Canada. Smokers have an increased mortality rate of up to twofold higher as well as four times the risk of developing debilitating diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Health Canada stated that they will take action to drive down tobacco use to less than five percent by the year 2035. Dr. Matthew Stanbrook, Associate Professor in the Respirology Division at the University of Toronto and member of the Canadian Thoracic Society, shared his thoughts on the most effective strategies to meet this laudable goal.

The Canadian Thoracic Society is Canada’s national specialty society for respirology bringing together over 1,000 members representing physicians, health care professionals and researchers working to improve lung health.

1 INCREASE TAX ON CIGARETTES

Health Canada should increase the tax on cigarettes because a higher price would be the most effective measure to drive down demand for cigarettes.

2 RAISE THE AGE OF SALE FOR TOBACCO PRODUCTS

The age of sale for tobacco products should be raised to 21. One of the ways the tobacco industry maintains their market is by targeting youth, and the further we push this age ahead, the harder we make it for them to accomplish these sales.

3 IMPLEMENT PLAIN, STANDARDIZED TOBACCO PACKAGING

Implementing plain, standardized tobacco packaging has proven to be successful in other countries, and Canada should follow suit.

4 BAN FLAVOURINGS IN TOBACCO AND OTHER INHALED NICOTINE PRODUCTS

Flavourings in e-cigarettes and other vaping products should be banned, as Canada has recently done for tobacco products, because flavorings attract youth, potentially leading them to nicotine addiction and tobacco use.

5 RESTRICT THE WAY THE INDUSTRY PROMOTES ITS BRANDS AND PRODUCTS

Health Canada needs to interfere with how the tobacco industry is targeting youth through entertainment and video games. Anti-tobacco advertisements should be added to these products to counter those messages.

6 GREATER PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF INDUSTRY INFORMATION

There needs to be more public education on the harmful nature of not only tobacco products but also what the tobacco industry is doing to undermine public policy.

7 GREATER EDUCATION AND SUPPORT FOR THOSE ON THEIR “QUIT JOURNEY"

Counselling and intervention needs to be made readily available to those attempting to quit smoking.It’s important that special programs are implemented to target the most vulnerable populations, like those of lower socio-economics tat us and indigenous communities, which have particularly high smoking rates.