THE ISSUE
• 22% of all deaths (approx. 45,200) in Canada are attributable to smoking, resulting in 4 times as many deaths as car accidents, suicide, homicide, and AIDS combined.
• 85% of current smokers start smoking by the age of 19, with an average age of smoking their first whole cigarette at 11.
• Only 5% of students who currently smoke think that they will be smoking in 5 years; 5 years later, 80% of them smoke heavily.
• Students who take up smoking show a decrease in academic achievement and motivation, and are more likely to drop out of high school than those who use marijuana or alcohol.
SMOKING AT KENNEBECASIS VALLEY HIGH
• 9% of students at your school report that they are smokers. Overall, 35% report that they have “ever tried” smoking.
• 24% of students who have never smoked a cigarette have low confidence in their ability to remain smoke-free in the future.
• Peer and family influences:
- 40% of respondents reported having at least one friend who smokes.
- 16% of students reported that at least one person smoked on a daily basis inside their home.
- 33% of students rode in the car with someone smoking during the week preceding the survey.
- 24% reported that there were no restrictions or only some restrictions regarding smoking in the home.
PERCEPTIONS VS. REALITY
• 69% of students believe that smoking uptake is associated with peer pressure, 26% with the desire to seem popular and 52% with the perception that smoking is cool. This suggests students perceive that their peers start smoking for social advantage, which contrasts with students’ own reported views of smoking.
• Students may underestimate how supportive their peers are of tobacco control initiatives. For example, 90% of students responded “no” when asked if smoking should be allowed around kids at home.
• 55% of students believe the myth that smoking helps people relax.
• 72% of smokers believe they would be able to quit smoking if they wanted to; however 84% have tried to quit at least once, and failed.
TOBACCO EDUCATION
• 44% of students reported having one or more classes in the last 12 months that talked about the effects of smoking.
• 70% of students at your school reported that their parents, step-parents, or guardians had talked to them about not smoking.
SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY SETTING
• A sense of connection to the school and school rules can support students to make healthy choices. 79% of students at your school either agreed or strongly agreed that “I feel I am part of my school.”
• 1% of students did not think there are any rules about smoking tobacco at school. Of the remainder, 38% reported that most students who smoke cigarettes do not obey the rules about smoking.
• 79% of students indicated that most or all retail stores near their school sell cigarettes and 79% reported seeing cigarette advertisements in these stores. 64% of students felt it would be easy to get cigarettes if they wanted to smoke.
• 21% of smokers said they are usually given cigarettes by friends, parents, siblings or someone else, while others (49%) usually buy them from retailers or from someone else.
• 63% of smokers smoke during the school day, and 80% smoke before/after school. 60% said they smoke while walking to/from school, at school but off school property, or on school property.
OTHER FINDINGS FROM KENNEBECASIS VALLEY HIGH
• 23% of students reported skipping one or more classes in the last 4 weeks.
• 69% of students reported having had a drink of alcohol that was more than just a sip.
• 39% reported having ever tried or used marijuana. Of the remainder, 7% said they would “probably” or “definitely” try marijuana in the future. 67% of students report that it would be easy to obtain marijuana if they wanted to use it.
Schools Can Make a Difference…
Things to Consider…
• What do you think is the connection between smoking and a decrease in academic achievement and motivation?
• What is it about our social and physical environment that tempts students to start smoking?
• Your school’s results show that 72% of students believe they could quit smoking if they tried. How does this fit with the fact that half of all students who smoke have tried to quit but failed?
What can we do?
• What can be done to minimize influences that encourage students at your school to start smoking?
• What support systems are available to help students at your school who smoke to quit smoking? What other supports can you recommend that would help students at your school to quit smoking?
Please refer to the full version of your school’s Feedback Report to see more detailed results. For more information, visit:
www.unbf.ca/education/herg
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