Online Tobacco

Industry News: B.C. RELEASES CANADA’S FIRST ABORIGINAL TOBACCO STRATEGY

Canada’s first strategy to help aboriginal people in B.C. continue to develop community-based solutions to tobacco addiction was released today by Children and Families Minister Edward John on behalf of Health Minister Corky Evans.

"The aboriginal tobacco strategy is a community-based, holistic tobacco reduction strategy arising from the experience and wisdom of aboriginal people themselves," said John. "It will help create a social climate that discourages tobacco misuse while respecting traditional ceremonial uses of tobacco."

The strategy, outlined in a paper called Honouring Our Health, is aimed at breaking down the acceptance of tobacco use within aboriginal communities. It blends aboriginal traditions with best practices for preventing people from starting to use tobacco, and for helping others to quit. It will mobilize aboriginal leadership and volunteers, integrate tobacco reduction activities with sporting and cultural events and help aboriginal communities deliver culturally relevant tobacco reduction programs.

Industry News: The stimulants that keep us awake

With every puff of tobacco smoke we inhale not only tar and free radicals but nicotine, which is a stimulant. Initially nicotine makes the smoker feel more alert but this effect is short-lived. Soon he or she feels relaxed.

While a relaxed state can promote sleep, this does not mean that smoking is an aid to a good night’s rest: the post-cigarette sense of relaxation is a result of the satisfaction gained from quenching the addictive craving for nicotine.

Once the nicotine is metabolised, the brain centres that control addiction start waking up the rest of the brain to get a fresh supply. This disturbs, and sometimes wakes, the sleeper. (Curiously, nicotine patches appear to improve sleep, probably because the addict is provided with a constant supply of nicotine).