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The Alarming Epidemic: Smoking Addiction Among Young Adults in Canada
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The Problem
Smoking continues to be a major public health concern in Canada, with devastating
consequences, particularly among young adults. According to the 2020 Canadian Tobacco and
Nicotine Survey (CTNS), 8% of young adults aged in Canada were current smokers, a decrease
from 13% in 2019, but still alarmingly high.
Source : https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsmoke-free.ca%2Fsixinsights-from-the-newly-released-canadian-tobacco-and-nicotinesurvey%2F&psig=AOvVaw1r9Xh_nx9dZ42WJ8iPEeAM&ust=1712555364848000&source=im
ages&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjhxqFwoTCPi_qYS0r4UDFQAAAAAdAAAAAB
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Moreover, the survey found that 13% of young adults aged 20-24 reported using at least
one tobacco product in the past 30 days, down from 18% in 2019, but again, a concerning
statistic.
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The smoking addiction among young adults of todays Canada is multifaceted and in turn very
different what might be faced by a smoker. Smoking not only causes damage attributed solely to
the individuals but also creates burden on the healthcare system and endangers invisibly the
community’s wellbeing.
Apprenticed of young people who smoke is to deal with a selection of health issues, like
lung cancer, heart and stroke. Another thing worth considering here is the fact that using tobacco
products may lead to nicotine addiction. Consequently, it might be quite difficult for individuals
to stop this kind of behavior and this cycle will return to the same point.
The disease pandemic has made to spread its devastation to whole communities and not
just to the people who are affected. In 2017, the fiscal impact of smoking-related health care in
Canada was assessed as $ 6.5 billion where a substantial part of this cost contributed was from
young people. The strain on public health resource is a problem because apart from the
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immediate public health concerned that needs to be addressed, it also hinders the systems ability
to contribute to the well-being of our communities.
The battling against smoking addiction in our youth population in Canada requires
immediate action. Through the application of effective, all listing strategies for tobacco use
prevention and reduction, we not only improve individuals health conditions but also make the
healthcare system less burdened and develop healthy and strong communities.
smocking addiction among young adults in Canada:
Metric
Young Adults (Aged 20-24
Adults (Aged 25+
years)
years)
Current Cigarette Smoking
8% (201,000)
11% (3.0 million)
Past-30-day Use of Any Tobacco
13% (295,000)
13% (3.3 million)
13% (312,000)
3% (854,000)
Product
Past-30-day Vaping
Key Factors Affecting Smoking Addiction in Young Adults:
Peer Influence and Social Norms
Curiosity and Experimentation
Stress and Mental Health Challenges
Access to Tobacco and Vaping Products
Severity of the Issue:
High Prevalence of Tobacco and Vaping Use Among Young Adults
Potential for Long-Term Nicotine Dependence and Health Consequences
Need for Targeted Prevention and Cessation Effort
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References
Canada, H. (2022, April 1). Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey (CTNS): summary of results
for 2020. Www.canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/canadiantobacco-nicotine-survey/2020-summary.html
