Tobacco control advocacy is needed because globally more than 8 million deaths are attributed to tobacco use annually, this includes smoked and chewing tobacco use, along with second-hand exposure to tobacco.
On Friday June 9th, 2023 the HCC and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) delivered a webinar, “Clearing the Air – Vaping and Youth in The Caribbean” to launch HCC’s new report, “Vaping Among Adolescents and Youth in The Caribbean: Situation, Policy Responses, and Recommended Actions”.
The report highlights that among individuals aged 13 to 15 years in the 35 PAHO Member States, the highest prevalence of current tobacco use (25.3%) was reported in the Caribbean, noting that ENDS/ENNDS use is also widespread and on the increase in the Caribbean. The report also makes recommendations to CARICOM governments—and their key partners and stakeholders—for priority actions to prevent and reduce ENDS/ENNDS use and harms among young people in the Caribbean.
Panellists emphasised the urgency of taking action to combat youth vaping given its high prevalence use among adolescents in the Caribbean. Vaping, defined as the inhalation and exhalation of vapour created by an electronic device, which heats a liquid containing nicotine, flavourings, and chemicals, poses significant risks. Read more
Why is the Caribbean suddenly the focus of lobbying by groups like the World Vapers’ Alliance, Smoke Free Sweden and We Are Innovation? The answer is clear: our region is being targeted as an entry point for industry-driven narratives designed to weaken strong tobacco control ahead of the Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). Read more
On Monday May 30th in celebration of World No Tobacco Day 2022 a webinar entitled ‘A Smoke-Free Caribbean: A Win/Win for Health and the Environment’, jointly hosted by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC), the Caribbean Public Health Law Forum (CPHLF) and the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Law and Health Research Unit (LHRU) took place to support CARICOM countries in achieving the goal of A 100% Smoke-Free-Caribbean by 2022. Read more
The webinar ‘A Smoke-Free Caribbean: A Win/Win for Health and the Environment’ also provided a platform for the launch of six new resources to encourage the implementation of smoke free legislation in the Caribbean.
The Healthy Caribbean Coalition developed this portal to monitor tobacco use among Caribbean adolescents and tobacco control policies and campaigns that protect youth. This site also provides resources for youth advocates who want to fight back against the tobacco industry.
What percentage of youth are using tobacco in the Caribbean?
- According to the Report on Tobacco Control in the Region of the Americas (2018) Caribbean countries have the highest levels of tobacco experimentation before the age of 10.
- Among the Americas, the Caribbean has the second highest prevalence of current tobacco use at 14.4%, above the regional average of 11.5%.
- According to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) Trinidad and Tobago has the highest rates of e-cigarette use at 17.2%.
Visit the Youth Tobacco Advocacy Portal to find out more here.
Prevent20 is a global coalition of cancer groups calling on governments to raise tobacco taxes, the single most effective tobacco control intervention. The movement’s name is in recognition of the more than 20% of all cancer deaths that are attributable to tobacco use – and completely avoidable.
It promotes tobacco taxes as a powerful solution for large-scale tobacco use prevention. It educates and activates cancer advocates to persuade their country governments to take up smart tax policy as a critical cancer prevention tool. Read more
Civil Society Led Tobacco Control Advocacy in the Caribbean: Experiences from The Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control.
This report documents best practices of the Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control (JCTC) and other Caribbean CSOs in the implementation of tobacco control measures within the region. The report explores examples of effective advocacy strategies that have withstood the constant pressure of the tobacco industry and have created stepping stones for action in countries where there is a lack of political will. Successes recorded here are in countries where governments displayed strong political will for tobacco control and which collaborated with key stakeholders, including CSOs, to achieve FCTC objectives. Read more