History: Young people approached me asking for a smoke. I told them no because smoking kills.
So one of them asked me why I was smoking and I told him to quit now because it gets harder as we get older and I'm half gone anyway. They didn't bother me anymore probably thinking I was a nutter. They were probably right in thinking that.
In 2001, 73 per cent of Canadian youth said they never smoked cigarettes. In 2005, the percentage rose to 82 per cent. This finding is key because most smokers start before age 18, and research shows that it is rare for adults to take up smoking.
If you had the opportunity to speak to youth today about smoking cigarettes, what would you say?
Source: Statistics Canada: Canadian Community Health Survey 2005, 2011
