Yellowknife (Feb 02/04) - The GNWT is developing a new anti-smoking strategy to target children aged eight to 14. That's the age when they are most likely to start smoking if they're ever going to pick up the habit.

The GNWT is developing a new strategy to reduce the amount of youth smoking. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

"To develop a smoke-free generation, we need to reach children before they become addicted to cigarettes," said Health and Social Services Minister Michael Miltenberger.

The GNWT's 2002 NWT School Tobacco Survey showed children begin to smoke at an average age of 12-13.

The details of the new strategy are still to be worked out, Miltenberger said. "We're trying to make sure we have the right approach."

What's being done in other jurisdictions will be considered. If methods are successful elsewhere, they will be packaged for the North.

"It's a question of education," Miltenberger said. "It's a question of role-modelling and positive reinforcement."

However, he stressed, there is no magic bullet solution.

"Kids smoke for various reasons."

The 2002 survey showed that 26 per cent of NWT youth smoke, well above the national average of 19 per cent. It also showed 17 per cent of children (ages 10 to 14) smoke, along with 42 per cent of teens (ages 15 to 17). Two out of every five youth in the NWT's smaller communities are smokers.

The survey also showed more girls smoke than boys, and more aboriginal youth smoke than non-aboriginal youth. There was no significant decrease in smoking rates from the previous survey in 1999.

Campaigns questioned

The effectiveness of anti-smoking campaigns is questioned at Diamond Jenness secondary school in Hay River. "I don't think people really go into programs -- not teenagers," said 16-year-old Lawrence, who has smoked five or six cigarettes a day since he was 14.

His advice to the government is to go after adults who buy cigarettes for children and teens. "How else is a minor going to get cigarettes?"

While she doesn't smoke, 15-year-old Emily said a few of her friends do.

"They see older people smoking and think it's OK."

She thinks government efforts will not affect the problem, explaining, "It's their own will."

A recent safety survey of 100 junior high students at DJSS showed 57 per cent picked tobacco as the school's most serious problem, said the school's principal Greg Storey.

Government should give schools more funding and resources to combat smoking, Storey said.