More Canadians are Butting OUT!

Good news:  according to a statistics Canada report, even though the population of Canada continues to increase, smoking rates are on the decline. Most heartening is that youths aged 12-15 have the lowest smoking rate (3.5%); this is positive because the majority of smokers start smoking before the age of 18.

The 18-34 year old crowd has the least to be proud of as they form the largest group of smokers (28%). Males are more likely to smoke than females, and the rate of female smokers has decreased.

The study also found that more homes and workplaces are smoke-free, meaning fewer people are subjected to second-hand smoke.

These findings are positive because smoking increases the risk for serious health problems, including heart disease, stroke and cancer. This translates into increased claim costs for group plans; it’s important to provide employees that do smoke with resources to help them quit if they want to quit. Employee and Family Assistance Programs are a great way to give smokers the tools to help them successfully quit; referrals to government sponsored programs may also help.

Source: CBC News