SUDBURY—With the incidence of elementary school aged children in the Sudbury district (which includes Manitoulin) reporting they have smoked in the past year being higher than the average age provincially, the Sudbury and District Board of Health is calling on the province to prohibit the use of e-cigarettes on school property and their promotion and reintroduce tobacco legislation banning candy and fruit-flavoured cigarettes while adding it to a ban on the sale of menthol cigarettes.
“As you can see in our motion, in 2013 approximately 5.6 percent of students in Grades 7 to 12 in the Sudbury and District Health Unit (SDHU) area reported having smoked cigarettes in the past year, which was higher compared to the provincial average of 3.4 percent in Ontario,” stated Sandra Lacle, director of the health promotion division of SDHU, after a board of health meeting last week.
“The overall prevalence of smoking in the SDHU area is significantly higher than that for the province, 26.4 percent versus 19.2 percent, of daily or occasional smokers of ages 12 and over, (2011-2012), and one in four Ontario youth in Grades 9-12 who reported smoking say they smoked menthol cigarettes,” said Ms. Lacle. “Evidence is showing that at least some of the youth smoking menthol cigarettes choose to do so because they didn’t like the flavour of regular cigarettes and it has been shown that menthol makes already toxic cigarettes more appealing cigarettes to them. We see this as a serious health risk.”
On the issue of flavoured tobacco menthol, the Sudbury Board of Health passed a motion at its meeting last week stating in part, “whereas in 2013, approximately 5.6 percent of students in Grades 7 to 12 in the Sudbury and District Health Unit (DSHU) area reported having smoked cigarettes daily in the past year (3.4 percent Ontario), and the overall prevalence of smoking in the SDHU area is significantly higher than that for the province (26.4 percent versus 19.2 percent daily or occasional smokers of ages 12 and over, 2011-2012), and one in four Ontario youth in Grades 9-12, who report smoking, say they smoked menthol cigarettes. And, evidence suggests that at least some of the youth smoking menthol cigarettes choose to do so because they didn’t like the flavour of regular cigarettes, and whereas the United States food and Drug Administration (FDS) determined that while menthol in cigarettes is not a toxic ingredient, menthol makes already toxic cigarettes more appealing cigarettes and is therefore a public health risk above that seen with non-menthol cigarettes. And whereas the Sudbury and District Board of Health has a longstanding history of action and advocacy to prevent tobacco use and promote tobacco use cessation, be it resolved that the Sudbury and District Board of Health strongly endorse the Ontario Medical Association’s call on government to reintroduce tobacco legislation banning candy and fruit-flavoured cigarettes while adding to it a ban of the sale of menthol cigarettes and tobacco products. This motion will be shared with appropriate local public health and government partners.”
The board also passed a motion on the manufacture, sale, promotion, display and use of e-cigarettes and prohibiting the use of e-cigarettes on school property. “Whereas electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) mimic the appearance, use, and sometimes the taste of a cigarette and some use cartridges which contain nicotine, an addictive substance. E-cigarettes that contain nicotine or make a health claim are illegal in Canada, however, there is no legislation that regulates the sale and use of e-cigarettes that do not contain nicotine or make health claims. And e-cigarettes could have potential as a cessation aid, but there is limited data on their overall effectiveness to do so. The Sudbury and District Board of Health support the efforts of alPHa, Ontario Boards of Health and other public health agencies and provincial organizations and strongly recommend implementation of federal regulations on the manufacturing and quality of e-cigarettes, the promotion, display and sale of e-cigarettes to minors, and the use of e-cigarettes in workplaces and public places. And further, that the Sudbury and District Board of Health recommend prohibiting the use of e-cigarettes on school property, and further that this motion be forwarded to Health Canada, the Honourable Rona Ambrose, local MPs, alPHa and Ontario Boards of Health.”
