Speakers' Booth to Raise Tobacco Awareness

University and college students will have a chance to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking as they share their own "great reasons to smoke." The Office of Health Promotion's speakers' booth will tour eight schools across the province, beginning at Mount Saint Vincent University today, Feb. 10.

The great reasons to smoke campaign takes a satirical look at the reasons people give for smoking, to change the way people think about smoking by highlighting the social consequences.

"We are concerned about the smoking rates among 20- to 24-year- olds and are looking at different ways to engage this population about the negative effects of tobacco use," said Health Promotion Minister Rodney MacDonald. "Instead of preaching the dangers of smoking to university and college students, we are using a more non-traditional medium."

The booth will increase awareness among a hard-to-reach audience about the negative effects of smoking. It is one initiative in the third-year of a public awareness campaign to help reduce smoking rates among Nova Scotians.

"Ideally we want students to walk away from the booth talking about the issue with their friends," said Nancy Hoddinott, manager of the province's tobacco control strategy.

Until March 31, students will have the opportunity to record their own great reasons to smoke. The great reasons to smoke advertising campaign also includes television, print, and radio ads. The recorded videos will be posted at www.greatreasonstosmoke.com where visitors can vote for their favourite submission.

In addition to the booth, this year's public awareness campaign includes a website, a 75-second cinema ad, bar coasters and a high school program. The combination will ensure the tobacco reduction message reaches communities across the province.

"It's the combination of messages delivered through various forms that will give people of Nova Scotia the information they need to decide to quit smoking," said Ms. Hoddinott.

Nova Scotia's tobacco control strategy, introduced in October 2001, is a seven-part plan that focuses on legislation and policy, tobacco pricing and taxation, treatment and cessation, monitoring and evaluation, community initiatives, school-based programs and public awareness.

NOTE: The speakers' booth tour schedule follows:

Feb. 10-14: Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax (main floor of Rosaria Centre)

Feb. 14-21: St. Francis Xavier, Antigonish (main lobby of Students' Union Building)

Feb. 21-24: University College of Cape Breton, Sydney (cafeteria)

Feb. 24-28: Nova Scotia Community College Marconi Campus, Sydney (exact location of booth to be determined)

Feb. 28-March 3: Acadia University, Wolfville (main level of Student Union Building)

March 3-7: Nova Scotia Community College Kingstec Campus, Kentville (exact location of booth to be determined)

March 7-9: NSCAD University, Halifax (student lounge)

March 9-15: Nova Scotia Community College Akerley Campus, Dartmouth (cafeteria)

March 15-21: Dalhousie University, Halifax (first floor of Student Union Building)

March 21-24: Saint Mary's University, Halifax (Student Union Building or Loyola Building)