Canadian Smokers Start Young

Fewer and fewer Canadians are smoking. In 1966, 43% of Canadians smoked. In 1986, 28% smoked.

But Canadian kids are starting to smoke at a younger age. Twenty years ago Canadians started to smoke at an average age of 16. Today they are starting at 14 or younger.

Angela Fraser is 16 years old. She started smoking six years ago. She says she and her brother started "because we thought it was cool".

Angela's mother used to smoke, but she quit. "She is always hassling me to quit," says the teenager. Angela wants to quit, but she says it's hard. "If more people around me didn't smoke, it would be easier," she says.

Why do young people start smoking? Health and Welfare Canada says pressure from friends and cigarette advertising are two reasons.

Background Information

Do you smoke? Do you know someone who does? What is it like to smoke? Is it easy to quit? Talk about why you think people smoke. Also talk about what the government has done to make it harder to smoke.

Questions

1. In 1966, what percentage of people smoked?

2. Why do you think so many people smoked?

3. At what age do kids start smoking today?

4. What is another way to say quit?

5. How old was Angela when she started smoking?

6. What is hassling?

7. Why do you think it's hard to quit?

8. Why does Angela say it's hard to quit?

9. What is the term for pressure from friends?

10. Do you agree with Health and Welfare Canada? Why or why not?