Christine Sanders Chief Operating Officer, Cayman Islands Cancer Society

A number of public bodies have joined forces to promote the dangers of smoking in honour of World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), set for Saturday, 31 May.

WNTD is an initiative of the World Health Organisation, first commemorated in 1988 and annually since 1990. This year’s theme is Tobacco-Free Youth.

Christine Sanders, Chief Operating Officer at the Cayman Islands Cancer Society said, “Young people are targeted by the tobacco industry who are looking for the next generation of tobacco users. They are influenced by role models, both persons in their everyday lives such as parents, other relatives and friends and also by musicians, sports and other personalities.”

She added:

“When they see these people smoking and using tobacco products, they think it is okay to do so as well. We need to unite and strive to be positive role models for our community.”

Therese Prehay, Health Promotion Officer in the Public Health Department of the Health Services Authority, said anecdotal evidence strongly suggested that there is a pattern of smoking among some young people in the Cayman Islands.

“Smoking is a public health issue and the department is partnering with the Cancer Society to heighten awareness and to educate youth about tobacco products, especially given this year’s theme,” she said.

As part of the awareness campaign, representatives from the organisations involved would be addressing schools - including pre-schools as “children are not too young to be cognizant of the fact that tobacco is harmful,” Ms Prehay said.

This is borne out by trends identified between 1998 and 2006 in the biannual Cayman Islands Student Drug Use Survey, conducted by the National Drug Council.

According to the latest report, “One important predictor of future smoking dependence is early onset of smoking. ‘Early age’ of smoking onset is defined here as having a whole cigarette between the ages of 6 and 11.”

The report continued: “In 2006, about 45.1 percent of lifetime smokers in all grades reported early onset, that is, they smoked their first cigarette between the ages of 6 and 11. In 2006, the average age of smoking onset among all students reporting ever smoking was 11.7 years.”

Ms Prehay said:

“For the tobacco industry to thrive and survive it has to target new persons.” She referred to research that indicated the need for the tobacco industry to target young people, to compensate for the loss of customers either because they had quit or died from ailments often related to that habit.

“Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death in the world,” said Ms Sanders. “(It) causes physical, mental and social hardship not just to the user but to the community as a whole.”

She explained that in addition to school presentations, information on the disadvantages of smoking would be available at the children’s exposition taking place on Saturday, 31 May at the Mary Miller Hall. The exposition marks the culmination of events celebrating Child Month.

She pointed to a change in perceptions about the use of tobacco by referring to the decision by Hurley’s supermarket earlier this year to stop selling tobacco products, as well as some restaurants becoming smoke-free.

“I am also preparing a list of smoke-free venues for people who want to avoid smoke,” she said, adding that it would be available from the Cancer Society office and on their website, www.cics.ky.

karen@caymannetnews.com