#SmokeFreeMonth has already attracted more than 185,000 participants since its launch!

dp-mois-sans-tabac-2018.pdf

Published on 30 October 2018

France still has 12 million smokers today. Despite a historic decline of 1 million smokers between 2016 and 2017, smoking rates among women—which have been steadily rising since the 1970s—remain a cause for concern, according to data from the Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin (BEH) published today to mark the launch of #MoisSansTabac. The national campaign to help people quit smoking, designed and led by Santé publique France in partnership with the Ministry of Solidarity and Health and the National Health Insurance, is back for its third edition.

Smoking Among Women: A Cause for Concern

While daily smoking in the general population is on the decline, this is not the case among women aged 45–54, among whom it is increasing, rising from 21.5% in 2000 to 30.8% in 2017.In its BEH report on smoking among women, Santé publique France analyzes tobacco use during pregnancy and assesses the impact of smoking on women’s health:

Awareness of the consequences of smoking on pregnancy and the unborn child leads half of pregnant women who smoke to quit. In 2016, 30% of women smoked before their pregnancy, and 46% of them had quit smoking before the third trimester.
Between 2002 and 2015, hospitalizations for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and myocardial infarction increased by 100% and 50%, respectively.
The number of deaths attributable to smoking doubled between 2000 and 2014. Lung cancer is on track to become the leading cause of death among women, surpassing breast cancer. Lung cancer mortality increased by 71% among women over the same period.

#SmokeFreeMonth, now on smokers’ calendars

With two days to go before the launch of the #SmokeFreeMonth challenge, smokers are ready to participate. Since its launch, more than 185,000 of them have registered on the Tabac Info Service website, already surpassing the number of registrants from 2017 (+15%). About 10,000 have chosen to join one of the 16 regional teams on Facebook to benefit from the support of a close-knit community. The Tabac Info Service Facebook page has 114,353 fans.

Partners mobilized to help smokers take on the challenge

Throughout the month of November, Santé publique France and the partners of #MoisSansTabac are organizing several thousand initiatives across the country (mainland France and overseas departments). Information booths will be set up in hospitals, businesses, and municipal centers. Special events, such as the Escape Game at the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, are being organized for the general public. Partners such as the Health Insurance Fund and Secours Populaire are implementing specific initiatives targeting vulnerable populations. Every effort is being made to support smokers in this new challenge!

Tabac Info Service, always here to help

Tabac Info Service remains the gateway to #MoisSansTabac. Even after the campaign has started, you can still sign up for #MoisSansTabac via the Tabac Info Service website: all you need is a username and an email address.