AHS celebrates National Non-Smoking Week

PEACE RIVER — Next week (Jan. 17-23) is National Non-Smoking Week, and Alberta Health Services (AHS) is partnering with communities throughout the Peace River area to raise awareness amongst Albertans about the dangers of tobacco and tobacco-like products.

The majority of Albertans choose tobacco-free lives, and are aware of the dangers of tobacco and nicotine (the highlight addictive compound found within tobacco). Unfortunately, fewer Albertans are aware of the dangers of tobacco-like products, such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), hookah and/or shisha. These products can – and often do – contain tobacco and nicotine.

The commonly held misconception that tobacco-like products are somehow safer than tobacco products poses a significant risk to Albertan’s health. Products like e-cigarettes – for which there are no standards or labelling requirements – contain multiple dangerous chemicals, and tests of some of these products labelled “nicotine-free” have found them to contain nicotine after all.

Similarly, tests have found varying amounts of tobacco in shisha products labelled as “herbal” or “tobacco-free.” Smoke from hookah has been linked to diseases that are usually seen with the smoking of cigarettes, such as cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and complications in pregnancy.

In the Peace River area, residents and media are invited to attend the following events and displays, which seek to raise awareness of the hidden dangers of tobacco-like products, and highlight the many ways Albertans can prevent and reduce use:

Peace River:

• Wednesday, Jan. 20 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Walmart, located at 9701 78 Street
  • An interactive display called “Tell us your story” will be available, inviting residents to share their stories about how they quit using tobacco, including how long they have quit for and what helped them quit
  • A carbon monoxide breath test will also be available to the public
  • Addictions counsellors and Walmart pharmacists will be available to answer questions about tobacco cessation
• Information about hookah and electronic cigarettes will be displayed at local medical clinics, the Healthcare Centre, Community Health Centre and Provincial Building
• Tobacco quit kits and other tobacco cessation information will be displayed at local pharmacies
• AHS staff will also be presenting to several local junior and senior high schools about tobacco use and electronic cigarettes

Fairview:

• Friday, Jan. 22 from 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the GPRC Fairview Campus, located at 11235-98 Ave.
  • An interactive display called “Tell us your story” will be available, inviting residents to share their stories about how they quit using tobacco, including how long they have quit for and what helped them quit
  • A carbon monoxide breath test will also be available to the public
  • Addictions counsellors will be available to answer questions about tobacco cessation
• Information about hookah and electronic cigarettes will be displayed at the Fairview Health Complex
• Tobacco quit kits and other tobacco cessation information will be displayed at local dental offices, medical clinics and at the health complex
• AHS staff will also be presenting to several local junior and senior high schools about tobacco use and electronic cigarettes

Information displays will also be available at various locations in Manning, Grimshaw, Worsley, Duncan, McLennan, Berwyn, and Falher.

For more information about community-specific resources, residents can call Karissa Chowdhury, AHS Tobacco Reduction/ Addictions Counsellor at 780-624-6193.

An annual event across Canada for more than 30 years, National Non-Smoking Week aims to raise awareness about the health risks of tobacco, in all its forms, as it provides education on the resources and support services available for those who wish to reduce or quit tobacco use.

For more information on tobacco, tobacco-like products, and supports to quit, visit albertaquits.ca.

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.

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