This Tuesday, November 5, in Bastia, organized an information stand at Place Saint Nicolas to encourage island smokers to take up the challenge of No Tobacco Month. Although around 800 Corsicans signed up this year for the collective national challenge which invites all smokers to spend 30 days without smoking, the prevalence of smoking on the island remains high.
Despite recurring prevention campaigns, Corsica continues to have a smoking rate higher than the national average. “In Corsica, smoking remains a major public health problem. The prevalence is stable but worrying, especially among young people, with a third of 17-year-olds smoking daily, well above the national average. » explain Angélique Baudin, head of the prevention department of the Addictions France association.
The association notes that the consequences of this high rate are already visible: in 2023, around 500 annual deaths are linked to tobacco in Corsica, from lung cancer to chronic respiratory diseases. Corsican women, whose number of smokers has quadrupled in a few years, are particularly affected, displaying lung cancer mortality 27% higher than that of women in France.
A collective challenge on an island scale
Since 2016, No Tobacco Month has invited smokers to try to quit for 30 days, which, according to experts, increases the chances of definitive quitting by five. For Angélique Baudin, “ the strength of this campaign lies in the collective. It is a shared challenge that motivates smokers to act together for their health. »
Caroline and Emma, members of the ADPS and responsible for the stand in Bastia, however report a timid start to mobilization: “ The passages are still weak this morning, but we remain optimistic. Many smokers come to get information, others share their experience of quitting. We help them correct preconceived ideas and discover the tools available to succeed. »
Local initiatives and support
Tobacco-Free Month does not stop in Bastia. Throughout November, awareness-raising actions are organized in several Corsican towns, including Lucciana, Corte, Ghisonaccia, Folelli and Calvi. Stands and consultations with tobacco specialists are multiplying to offer local help. “The important thing is to reach out to people”adds Angélique Baudin, emphasizing the importance of local consultations supported by the ARS. To support smokers in their approach, various tools are made available, such as the Tabac Info Service application and the assistance number 39 89. “ These resources are essential for tracking progress, finding support, and getting free advice.”adds Caroline.
While prevention efforts are strengthening, the fight against smoking in Corsica promises to be a long one. According to estimates, actions like No Tobacco Month could help prevent thousands of cases of serious respiratory illnesses and cancers by 2050. But for this to happen, initiatives must gain impact and reach an ever-wider audience. “The Corsicans must seize this collective opportunity, because each attempt counts, each month without smoking brings a little closer to definitive cessation”, concludes Angélique Baudin, recalling that the health of the island is everyone’s business.
