AHS highlights smoking dangers on World No Tobacco Day

Robert Swanson, Executive Director at Red Deer Regional Hospital in the AHS Central Zone says they recognize however that tobacco use is often an addiction.

“We want to treat it like an addiction in a supportive manner to offer the appropriate supports,” says Swanson. “Whether that’s some addictions counselling, whether it’s nicotine replacement therapy and just being open with our patients and frankly our staff as well about how we can help support them.”

“What we have done in terms of our overall policy is we’ve made some revisions to it recently,” he adds. “What we want to ensure is that cannabis is treated in the same manner as what tobacco related products would be utilized as well.”

In that regard, Dr. Mohammed Mosli, Medical Officer of Health for AHS Central Zone says if it were up to him, he wouldn’t want anyone to use cannabis but admits Canada has one of the highest rates of cannabis use in the world.

“If I’m concerned about the legalization itself, I would say I’m in support of the legalization,” Mosli explains. “Yes I am concerned about cannabis consumption but I wish people to know the harms of cannabis use and to let them know that Alberta Health Services is there to give them the answers that they need.”

Mosli also points out that smoking is one of the leading causes pf premature death, with around 3,000 Albertans killed every year because of smoking-related illnesses.

“Smoking impacts the person who smokes, as well as his or her loved ones around them,” states Mosli. “Cigarette smoking is not only the primary, the inhaled part of it but also what’s exhaled in the air and the environment and what precipitates and attaches to people’s clothes and furniture. That is what we call third-hand smoke.”

He says smoking cigarettes can also lead to heart disease, lung disease, brain disease, strokes and can be the cause of cancer in almost any organ of the body.

“It is a significant health concern and I wish that people were more aware of the programs that we have in place to support people to quit smoking,” exclaims Mosli. “We have the website that we want people to visit and be aware of www.albertaquits.ca and it has a lot of information of how people can reach that goal.”

All AHS facilities are designated smoke-free environments under the AHS Tobacco and Smoke-free Environments Policy. A policy which prohibits tobacco and tobacco-like consumption, including cannabis in or on all grounds, facilities, property or vehicles in an area owned, operated leased or funded by AHS.

World No Tobacco Day has been observed annually around the world on May 31 for the past 20 years. It was established by the World Health Organization (WHO) to highlight the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.

by Sheldon Spackman

AHS highlights smoking dangers on World No Tobacco Day

What's Trending