Sitting in a meeting about drugs and addictions, the chair remarked on some recent statistics she had received. In the past our health district had one of the lowest tobacco uses in the province. The Statistics Canada report for 2007 showed that we were now one of the highest — supposedly 30% of our health district use tobacco.
My mind immediately raced to those who smoke. I think there has been a decrease. But perhaps the increase in transient or short-term workers has brought an increase?
The rest of the group sat for a moment. Then various comments began to arise. For those who desire to remain politically correct when they are with the non-smoking group they will chew tobacco. In sports and other activities chewing tobacco is considered acceptable, if not desirable and seemingly on the rise. None of these activities decrease the harm of the tobacco, they merely mask the use.
When you put that all together, perhaps we have increased. Perhaps the signs of tobacco use just aren’t quite as obvious.