National Smoking Control Campaign 2009
The National Health Surveillance Survey 2007 shows that 13.6% of Singapore residents aged 18 to 69 years smoked daily, slightly higher than in 2004 (12.6%). More males (23.7%) than females (3.7%) were smokers. Daily smoking was most prevalent in those aged 18 to 29 years (17.2%) and least among older adults aged 60 to 69 years (11%). Please refer to Annex A for more findings revealed in the NHSS.
In line with the NHSS 2007 findings, NSCC 2009 will focus on youth and young working adults. With the theme "Live it Up Without Lighting Up", the campaign highlights that a smoke-free lifestyle is hip, cool and desirable. Recognising that long-term effects may have little impact on youth, the campaign focuses on the shorter-term effects on factors such as appearance, fitness, expenses and the environment. Accordingly, creative and vibrant youth-centric initiatives centering on the following four sub-themes have been planned:
Better looks without lighting up
Better fitness without lighting up
Better environment without lighting up
Better spending power without lighting up
Key highlights of the campaign include the Be Fab & Smoke Free Fashion Event, the Rockin Without Smokin Event and the No Butts Project. More information on the Live it Up Without Lighting Up Campaign as well as a list of event highlights held in conjunction with the campaign is attached at Annex B for your information.
Combating smoking among youth and young adults
Addressing smoking prevalence has always been a key priority and challenge for the Health Promotion Board (HPB). HPB, through its National Smoking Control Programme (NSCP) which started in 1986, has adopted a multi-pronged strategy that includes taxation, legislation, public education, collaborative partnerships and provision of smoking cessation services to combat smoking by reducing the supply of and demand for tobacco.
Initiatives targeted at youth and young adults have been part of the NSCP and these will be stepped up and/or enhanced to:
Prevent the experimentation and initiation of smoking
Promote a smoke-free lifestyle as the preferred norm
Encourage youth and young adult smokers to quit
Equip non-smokers with skills and strategies to help friends/loved ones kick the habit
Smoking is a hard habit to kick and it is therefore better never to start. NHSS 2007 reveals that the average age of experimentation with cigarettes is 16 years. As such, school-based strategies have been enhanced to reach out to students at the upper primary level, to encourage them to embrace a smoke-free stand from young. Initiatives include the Too Tuff to Puff Sports Programme and the "I am a Smoke-free Agent" Programme.
Youth, especially teenagers tend to be influenced by their peers. Initiatives targeted at secondary and tertiary level youth include peer-led education programmes such as Hey Butts Off and other youth-led activities supported through HPB s Youth Advolution for Health (YAH) Programme.
A new strategy in the pipeline is the revamp of the mandatory counselling framework for first time underaged smoking offenders. From 1 May 2009 onwards, first time offenders will be required to undergo a mandatory brief online intervention that aims to encourage them to consider quitting smoking. This will be coupled with a new website that provides testimonials and self-reflection components that aim to motivate youth smokers to kick the habit.
Another new introduction is the "No Butts Project", a corporate challenge with a redemption component for both companies and young adult workers, which will be launched in May 2009.
Recognising that the media can also play a part to influence smoking by youth and young adults, HPB has in recent years stepped up new media and innovative marketing efforts to promote a smoke-free lifestyle. This is also reflected in the various programmes being implemented in conjunction with NSCC 2009.
Please refer to Annex C for more details on HPB s smoking control strategies for youth and young adults.
Annex A - Key Findings of the National Health Surveillance Survey (NHSS) 2007 on Smoking
Annex B - Key Highlights of NSCC 2009
Annex C - Key Smoking Control Strategies implemented by Health Promotion Board for Youth and Young Adults
Annex D - Factsheet - World Conference on Tobacco or Health, 2012