Veda Peters, BC Lung Association and Nurse Educator, says, "the main reason they smle, no matter what they tell you, is addiction."

They may have heard some of this before, but some Grade 7 students  are getting the dangers of cigarette smoking spelt out to them again - this time a bit more graphically.

Peters, "your breathing very hot, very dirty smole about 150 times a day, every day for 15 to 20 years, that could make your lungs look more black."

Veda then walks them through the risks of chronic lung disease, heart disease and lung cancer.

"It's the number one cause of cancer deaths among both men and women."

Before dispelling a few myths: Occasional smokers have exactly the same risks as someone who's a daily smoker.

And why is the tobacco industry so focussed on youth? 

Peters, "in this country, they need 300 new smokers each day to just keep things the same and they are looking at you (grade 7 students)."

Grant Burchill, Area Councillor in the West End, says, "we ask that question (if kids will smoke) every year and most say they won't, but we find by about grade 10, there's 2-3 in every class thaty do start."

Peters, "you know you can't hear the message too many times and if one of the things we can do is maybe not to quit, if I can affirm one child's decision not to smoke, I think we've done a good thing."

Children are twice as likely to smoke if their parents do. And while parents may think they're helping their kids by smoking outside, they're really not. Because smoke gets trapped in their hair and clothes and gets transferred to say infants, when they cuddle them. Second hand smoke is also bad for young children because they breathe faster, their lungs are smaller and their immune systems are less well-developed.

Wednesday June 7, 2006