Youth smoking rates rising in New Brunswick

Despite widespread social and legal measures against ingesting tobacco, smoking rates are rising among young people in New Brunswick.

The New Brunswick Health Council says those in the Grade 6 to Grade 12 age range baffle experts by lighting up.

At seven per cent, New Brunswick owns the highest youth smoking rate in Canada, despite laws against smoking in cars with children, in public buildings, on public transportation or in bars and restaurants.

Stephane Robichaud, chief executive officer of the council, listed decreasing smoking rates as the fifth priority to improve the health of young people.

"We've improved in the exposure to second-hand smoke, which is good. Unfortunately the cigarette companies are doing a great job. They're still getting more and more youth to try smoking," Robichaud said.

In 2012-13, New Brunswick's youth-smoking rate was five per cent.

Taylor Mansfield took up smoking at a young age. "I was having some family issues between my parents, and I figured I would see if that would help with my stress," he said.

Cole Hutchins offered similar reasons. "I kind of started when I got depressed over my dad dying," he said.

"My dad smoked, and that's how my sister started, and then my sister smoked, and that's how I started. Big old family tree. And my mom smokes."

Hutchins lives with his grandmother, who doesn't smoke. "Thank God. She's really the one who is motivating me to quit this year."

20 students try to quit every week

At Leo Hayes High School in Fredericton, Principal Brad Sturgeon points out the Quit for Life program, one of several helping students to quit.

It gets about 20 students each week who want to stop smoking. Schools continue to offer quitting programs, counselling, peer-to-peer education, and teens speaking against smoking at middle school.

"The initiatives that we have, hopefully we'll carry those forward and be able to bring those numbers down again," Sturgeon said.