Cigarette smoking levels are down in Canada and the United States, but smoking remains the number one preventable cause of death and disease in both countries. In Canada and America women tend to smoke less than men. In 2007, 18 percent of Canadian females and 20 percent of males reported smoking cigarettes. In the US, an estimated 18.3 percent of women and 23.1 percent of men smoke, based on 2008 statistics from The American Heart Association.
Teen Smoking Rates in Canada
Among youth smokers in Canada, fewer kids are starting to light up. CBC news reports that in 2001, 73 percent of youth said they had never smoked cigarettes. Yet by 2005, 82 percent said they had never smoked. Researchers stated that this is a "key" finding because most people start smoking before the age of 18.
Youth Smoking in America
According to MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health, nearly a quarter of all high school students in America are smokers and another 8 percent chew smokeless tobacco. Teens who smoke will be more likely to drink alcohol or experiment with illegal drugs. These teens will also be more likely to suffer from anxiety or depression. People that start smoking before the age of 21 will have the hardest time quitting later in life. Approximately 30 percent of these smokers will die from a smoking-related disease, MedlinePlus reports.
The Canadian Workplace and Cigarettes
In Canada, more workplaces are switching to a smoke-free environment. Between 2001 and 2003, the number of Canadians who could not smoke at work went from 62 to 67 percent. In 2005, the ban on smoking in the workplace rose to 68 percent, reports CBC News.
Workplace Smoking Bans in the US
In America, banning smoking in most places of employment has helped curb the amount of health damage that cigarettes cause. By 1999, 70 percent of US workplaces had already adopted a smoke-free policy. Increasingly, businesses are prohibiting smoking in workplaces including offices, bars and restaurants.
Secondhand Smoke
According to the American Heart Association, there is a link between secondhand smoke,cardiovascular diseases and death. Approximately 38,000 people die from heart and blood vessel diseases caused by other smokers each year. People who are exposed to cigarettes at home or at work will increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25 to 30 percent, the American Heart Association reports. Children are especially vulnerable. In Canada, more and more homes and offices are becoming smoke-free. In 2005, 23 percent of non-smokers said they were exposed to secondhand smoke daily. This figure is significantly less than 29 percent who reported secondhand smoke exposure in 2003.
