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By Mario Cabradilla

More than 4,000 Albertans die from tobacco use annually

Jun 1, 2022 | 10:26 AM

OTTAWA, ON – The Government of Canada is investing in smoking cessation programs aimed at reducing tobacco-related illnesses and deaths across the country, including in Alberta.

In a news release issued May 31, 2022, the federal government stated that over $1.6 million is being invested in five organizations to promote the prevention and cessation of tobacco use across Canada.

In Alberta, the Association for Action on Smoking and Health (AASH) will receive $528,132 to work on the prevention and reduction of commercial tobacco use among First Nations communities.

This work will include a focus on holistic Indigenous-centred knowledge, sustainable processes, community-driven methods, interventions aligned with population health approaches, and the implementation of evidence-informed, culturally-centered concepts.

Federal Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos says quitting smoking is one of the best things a person can do for their health.

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“That is why our government is committed to investing in ways that will help make quitting easier for all. By supporting community-based projects focused on preventing and reducing tobacco use, we can help lower smoking rates across the country and help everyone protect their well-being.”

Alberta Health Services (AHS) says, every year, more than 4,000 Albertans die from tobacco use, and tens of thousands more Albertans have serious tobacco-related illnesses that significantly affect their quality of life.

AHS aims to raise awareness of the health risks related to smoking and tobacco and is reminding Albertans of the cessation resources available to help them.

The federal government states that close to 30,000 Canadians every year are diagnosed with lung cancer, a devastating and often preventable disease.

It adds that many smokers started smoking at an early age and that the younger a person starts smoking, the more difficult it is to quit later in life.

According to the federal government, 8.6% of students in Grades 7-9 have tried a cigarette.

Tobacco usage plays a role in causing more than 40 diseases and other serious health outcomes, and remains the leading cause of lung cancer and 20 other types of cancer, according to the Government of Canada.

For more information on free programs and services, visit albertaquits.ca or call the AlbertaQuits Helpline at 1-866-710-QUIT (7848), which provides one-to-one telephone counselling.