Saskatchewan has the highest percentage of teen smokers between the ages of 15 to 19 with 22 per cent. That’s according to the Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey. The national average is at 8 per cent. Donna Pasiechnik, a Health Policy Analyst with the Canadian Cancer Society says the province needs to increase the taxes on the prices of cigarettes. She says last time a large tax increase was applied to cigarettes there was significant drop in the consumption of cigarettes. Pasiechnik adds the province needs the tax revenue and she wonders why the government isn’t increasing the prices to help stop teens from smoking. Prince Edward Island has the second highest teen smoking rate in the country with 16 per cent smoking between the ages of 15 to 19.
Saskatchewan has More Teen Smokers Than Other Provinces
Nov 5, 2018 | 5:51 AM