Tobacco fact sheet

Traditional Use of Tobacco many Indigenous peoples, but misuse of in the general population, , commercial tobacco products (such as Inuit, and Métis peoples still have among Tobacco has been used traditionally cigarettes) has become a significant public the highest rates of of any 7 in ceremonies, rituals, and prayers for health problem within First Nations, Inuit, population group in . thousands of years. With the exception of and Métis populations in Canada. the Arctic, where tobacco did not grow Recent data from the First Nations Regional Health Survey (RHS) and was not commonly used, tobacco Tobacco Misuse: Smoking rates traditionally had spiritual significance and 2008/2010 shows that 57% of First was considered by many to be a sacred gift among Aboriginal Peoples in Nations adults smoke daily or occasionally from the Creator.1 Many First Nations Canada compared to 20% of the general Canadian 8 peoples used Nicotania rustica, or Indian population. The report also found that Tobacco, for ceremonial and medicinal Tobacco misuse is defined as the non- smoking is more prevalent among First purposes. Tobacco was traditionally used traditional, recreational and/or habitual Nations adults who are unemployed or during sacred ceremonies and prayer to use of commercial tobacco products, who have a lower household income, give thanks to the Creator and Mother including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing a correlation mirrored in the general 9 Earth, to communicate with the spirits, tobacco, and spit tobacco.4 Smoking Canadian population. Rates of smoking and to purify the mind and heal the body.2 cigarettes is the most common form among First Nations youth are a significant It could be burned over a fire, thrown of tobacco misuse. Tobacco misuse in cause for concern. One in three (33%) on water, left on the ground, chewed, or Aboriginal5 populations became prevalent First Nations youth are current smokers, smoked in a pipe either by an individual or in the post-contact era for a number of compared to 8% of youth in the general in a group.3 reasons, including the industrialization Canadian population. Daily smoking is of tobacco as a cash crop and a shift in more prevalent among First Nations girls 10 Today, tobacco still holds traditional societal values towards its consumption.6 than boys. spiritual, cultural and medicinal value for Today, despite declining rates of smoking

sharing knowledge · making a difference partager les connaissances · faire une différence Inuit adults have among the highest rates with smokers dying an average of 8 years and develop attention deficit-hyperactivity of smoking in Canada – 57% of adults earlier than non-smokers.14 Half of all syndrome (ADHD) symptoms during (ages 15 years and over) are daily smokers. smokers will die prematurely as a result childhood.19 The rates of smoking are highest in the 20- of smoking, often after years of suffering Second-hand smoke impacts the health of 44 age group (65%) and in the region of from reduced quality of life associated with non-smokers. Children who live in homes Nunavik, in arctic (73%).11 smoking. Smoking cigarettes is associated where parents or other adults smoke are with both cardiovascular disease and at high risk for developing a wide range Although smoking rates among Métis cancer, two of the leading causes of early of respiratory problems, including upper populations are lower than those among death in Aboriginal populations in North and lower respiratory tract infections, First Nations or Inuit populations, they America.15 Other preventable health wheezing, asthma, reduced immune system are still significantly higher than the problems associated with smoking include function, and allergies.20 Children of general Canadian population. The 2006 high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smokers are also twice as likely as children Aboriginal Peoples survey showed that emphysema, pneumonia, influenza, peptic of non-smokers to become smokers 31% of Métis adults are daily smokers, ulcers, chronic bowel disease, gum disease, themselves.21 smoking an average of 15 cigarettes each osteoporosis, sleep problems, cataracts and day.12 More recent statistics focused on thyroid disease.16 Smoking can also cause What you can do in your Métis living in showed even fertility problems in both men and higher smoking rates with 33.3% of Métis women.17 community adults (ages 12 and up) smoking daily or The First Nations and Inuit Health occasionally, compared with a provincial Smoking during pregnancy is particularly Committee of the Canadian Paediatric average of 21.7%.13 dangerous for both expectant mothers and Society recommends a number of steps their babies. Complications of smoking that Aboriginal communities can take during pregnancy include increased Health Impacts to reduce the rates of smoking.22 These risk of miscarriage, problems with the recommendations include the following: The high rates of smoking in First development of the fetus, low birth weight, higher rates of premature delivery, and Nations, Inuit, and Métis populations · Adopt a minimum age for the sale of withdrawal symptoms in newborns.18 across Canada is a serious health problem. cigarettes Babies born to mothers who smoke during Tobacco misuse is related to a number of · Encourage dialogue in the community pregnancy are also more likely to die from preventable diseases and to early death, to help change attitudes about tobacco SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) use · Continue to discourage smoking in the · Aboriginal tobacco program http://lung.ca/_resources/Making_ workplace and ban the non-traditional http://www.tobaccowise.com/ quit_happen_report.pdf use of tobacco in public places · Educate retailers on-reserve about the · Inuit Tobacco-free Network Endnotes Tobacco Act and discourage the sale of http://www.naho.ca/inuittobaccofree/ tax-free tobacco products 1 Boomer, J. (2003). Building and sustaining · Ensure tobacco products are kept out of · Canadian Cancer Society: Help with Partnerships: A resource guide to address non- sight in all stores quitting traditional tobacco use. Ottawa, ON: Report · Place a surcharge on tobacco products http://www.driventoquit.ca/english/ prepared for First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, on-reserve and use the increased help_with_quitting/ . revenue to support smoking prevention 2 Reading, J. (1999). The tobacco report, Chapter 4. programs in the community · Heart & Stroke Foundation In First Nations and Inuit Regional Health Survey. · Encourage community members to http://iwillsucceed.ca/ Regina, SK: First Nations and Inuit Regional establish smoke-free homes in order to Health Survey National Steering Committee. diminish the exposure of children to · Lungs are for life (children’s resource) Retrieved October 26, 2012 from http://uregina. ca/library/holdings/FN_regional_survey_ch4.pdf second-hand smoke http://www.lungsareforlife.ca/ · Discourage non-traditional use of 3 Boomer, J. (2003). tobacco products and ensure access to · Health Canada: Help on quitting programs and services to help smokers smoking 4 Ministry of Health and Ministry quit http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fniah-spnia/ Responsible for Seniors (2001). Honouring our substan/tobac-tabac/help-aide-eng.php health: An Aboriginal tobacco strategy for British Columbia. Victoria, BC: Government of British For more information Columbia. Retrieved October 26, 2012 from www. · Quitnow.ca health.gov.bc.ca/aboriginal/pdf/honouring.pdf http://www.quitnow.ca/ There are many ways to reduce or quit 5 In the context of this fact sheet, the term tobacco misuse in your life and a number · Making Quit Happen: Canada’s ‘Aboriginal’ is used broadly to refer to the of free resources and programs available to Challenges to Indigenous inhabitants of Canada, including First help, including: Nations (whether they be status/non-status or live on or off reserve), Métis and Inuit. Wherever 14 Health Canada (n.d.). Health effects of smoking. possible, we provide information for distinct Ottawa, ON: Health Canada. Retrieved October groups/communities. 24, 2012 from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hc-ps/ 6 Reading, J. (1999). tobac-tabac/quit-cesser/now-maintenant/road- voie/_program/unit2-8-eng.php 7 Ibid. 15 Retnakaran, R., Hanley, A.J.G., Connelly, P.W., 8 The First Nations Information Governance Centre Harris, S.B., & Zinman, B. (2005). Cigarette (2012). First Nations Regional Health Survey smoking and cardiovascular risk factors among (RHS) Phase 2 (2008/10): National report on Aboriginal Canadian youths. Canadian Medical adults, youth and children living in First Nations Association Journal, 173(8): 885-9. communities. Ottawa, ON: The First Nations Information Governance Centre. 16 Health Canada (n.d.).

9 Ibid. 17 Ibid.

10 Ibid. 18 Wong, S. (2006). Use and misuse of tobacco among Aboriginal peoples. Paediatric Child Health, 11 Tait, H. (2009). Smoking among Inuit in Canada 11(10): 681-5. – Findings from the 2006 Aboriginal Peoples Survey. Ottawa, ON: , Social and 19 Ibid. Aboriginal Statistics Division, presentation to the National Inuit Tobacco Task Group. 20 Charaghi, M. & Salvi, S. (2009). Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and respiratory health in 12 Métis Centre, National Aboriginal Health children. European Journal of Pediatrics, 168(8): Organization (NAHO) (n.d.). Respiratory health 897-905. of Métis adults: Findings from the 2006 Aboriginal Peoples Survey. Ottawa, ON: Métis Centre. 21 Health Canada (n.d.). Tobacco effects. Ottawa, Retrieved October 30, 2012 from http://www. ON: Health Canada. Retrieved October 23, 2012 naho.ca/documents/metiscentre/english/2011_ from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fniah-spnia/substan/ respiratory_health_factsheet.pdf tobac-tabac/effects-effets-eng.php#shs

13 Martens, P., Bartlett, J., Burland, E., Prior, H., 22 Wong, S. (2006). Burchill, C., Huq, S., Romphf, L., et al. (2010). Profile of Métis health status and health care utilization in Manitoba: A population-based study. Winnipeg, MB: University of Manitoba Faculty of Medicine, Community Health Sciences. Retrieved October 24, 2012 from http://mchp-appserv.cpe. umanitoba.ca/reference/MCHP-Metis_Health_ Status_Full_Report_%28WEB%29_%28update_ aug11_2011%29.pdf

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© 2013 National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health. This publication was funded by the NCCAH and made possible through a financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada.