The League Against Cancer welcomes the new anti-smoking plan

There League against cancer welcomes the new anti-smoking plan while asking the health authorities to go further on puffs.

What does Aurélien Rousseau’s new anti-smoking plan contain?

The Minister of Health Aurélien Rousseau announced on November 28 a new national tobacco control program for the years 2023 to 2027 placed under the sign of a strengthening of taxation and bans surrounding tobacco. With a gradual increase in tobacco prices (which will rise to 12 euros per pack in 2025) and the ban on smoking on all beaches, in all parks, forests and around certain public places such as schools, “tobacco-free will now be the norm”, he announced.

A decision welcomed by the League Against Cancer, which has defended this measure for many years and which is at the origin of the labels “Tobacco-free space” And “Tobacco-free beaches”.

The League Against Cancer welcomes the new anti-smoking plan

“Denormalizing tobacco use, raising awareness among young people and protecting the health of all are essential steps to achieve the objective that the League Against Cancer defends, namely achieving a tobacco-free generation by 2030,” can we read in a press release.

“In France, tobacco is the leading cause of avoidable mortality. In fact, the number of smokers is stagnating: if we want to reduce it, and in particular prevent younger people from starting to smoke, it was urgent to act on a large scale and to generalize the ban on smoking in spaces open to the public, and in particular around schools and in parks frequented by children. After having encouraged and supported communities in the establishment of Tobacco-Free Spaces , we are today delighted to see this measure becoming widespread and fully mobilized to support its implementation across all territories.”also comments Daniel Nizri, president of the League Against Cancer.

New anti-smoking plan: the League against cancer asks for more regarding puffs

The only downside: the League Against Cancer is asking for more regarding puffs. “Disposable electronic cigarettes or “puffs” are ready-to-use electronic cigarettes, pre-filled with a pre-charged battery, whose marketing is aggressively directed towards minors, in particular thanks to a very diversified range of flavors”, deplore the activists. “Its use increases the risks of developing inflammation of the respiratory tract and affecting the brain development of young people. The nicotine level is high enough to create strong dependence and can constitute a gateway to smoking. Furthermore , these devices are made of plastic and a non-removable lithium battery, which represents an immediate and long-term danger for the environment. they add. “It is urgent that, for the purposes of public health and environmental protection, France bans the production and sale of such devices,” they say.

Tobacco is responsible for 75,000 deaths in France every year

After a significant decline for several years following the implementation of the two public programs to reduce smoking, the prevalence of this phenomenon is stabilizing in France, even increasing since 2019 among women and people with less education. .

Every year, tobacco is responsible for 75,000 deaths in France, including 45,000 from cancer. “Involved in the development of 17 different locations of cancer and in 8 out of 10 cases of lung cancer, smoking remains the leading preventable risk factor for cancer.recalls the League against Cancer in conclusion.