Is Smoking on the Rise in Young People?

As the World Health Organization marks World No Tobacco Day, we celebrate the fact that smoking has steadily declined over the past 30 years. 

According to a 2023 BC Adolescent Health Survey, 15% of youth aged 12 to 19 reported having smoked tobacco. B.C. also has the lowest smoking rates among adults in Canada, at 9.5% compared to a national rate of 12.5%. 

However, smoking is showing up more in movies, TV shows and music videos. Young people may copy celebrities and social media influencers that glamourize smoking. Because of this, some worry that smoking is making a pop culture comeback.  

While smoking may be in danger of trending again, here’s why it’s still not cool:  

Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer.  

More people die from lung cancer each year in B.C. than from colorectal, pancreatic and breast cancer combined. Lung cancer is often diagnosed late stage, due to a lack of early symptoms. BC Cancer’s lung cancer screening program is helping people who have a significant smoking history catch the disease earlier, when it’s more treatable.   

Secondhand smoke increases cancer risk.  

Each year, more than 800 Canadians who don’t smoke die from second-hand smoke. Children and youth are more at risk. Men are more susceptible to harm from secondhand smoke than women.  

Smoking increases lung cancer risk due to radon. 

 Radon is a colourless and odourless radioactive gas that is naturally released from the ground. It’s the leading cause of lung cancer in people who don’t smoke.  

While a non-smoking person exposed to elevated levels of radon over time has a 1 in 20 chance of developing lung cancer, a person who smokes exposed to the same radon level has a 1 in 3 chance of developing lung cancer.  

Vaping is harmful to your health. 

While the long-term effects of vaping are still unknown, the aerosol produced by vape pens or electronic cigarettes contains harmful chemicals such as nicotine, heavy metals (like lead) and other cancer-causing agents.  

Source: BC Cancer