On the occasion of “no tobacco month”, several associations are organizing a futsal tournament this Friday, November 15 to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking. 120 participants wet their swimsuits at the Patrick Cazal gymnasium in Saint-Denis.
Published on November 16, 2024 at 9:12 a.m.,
updated November 16, 2024 at 9:59 a.m.
Stop for a month, just to stop. This is the message launched by the Regional Health Agency and several associations mobilized on the occasion of Tobacco-Free Month, the 9th edition of which runs until November 30, 2024. Because after a month without smoking, the chances of stop permanently are multiplied by five.
In order to support the action of these organizations engaged in the fight against addictions, a futsal tournament was organized this Friday, November 15 at the Patrick Cazal gymnasium in Saint-Denis.
Watch the report from Réunion La 1ère:
Tobacco-free month: futsal to motivate yourself
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©Reunion the 1st
120 participants, divided into ten teams, competed at the invitation of Csapa Nord/Addictions France, Links of Hope, Rive, Cap Prévention, Chez soi d’abord, the Solidarity Boutique and from the Academy of Dalons.
“I’m trying to stop, but it’s not easy. Sport makes you breathe and forget about cigarettes. That’s when I tell myself that I really have to stop”realizes Sandro, one of the players.
“The activity allows them to exert themselves physically and regain a certain capacity in the body. When you smoke, it’s hard, if you drink, you get stuffy” explains Nadège Mansard, from the association Les maillons de l’spérance.
At the edge of the pitch, an information stand with tests, games, and advice on getting rid of this stubborn habit.
“I smoked two packs a day for 44 years, I stopped for six months and then I dove back, to two, three cigarettes a day. But I don’t lose hope”encourage Nathalie.
“Ti pa ti pa narrivé. We are here to start, to then manage to stop. The idea is to get the population to become aware, to react”underlines Stéphanie Sotoca, prevention facilitator at the Addictions France association.
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©Rahabia Issa
In Reunion, smoking is still responsible for nearly 600 deaths per year. According to an ARS survey carried out in 2021, 21% of Reunion Islanders aged 18 to 75 reported smoking daily (compared to 25% in 2014). This still represents more than 100,000 daily smokers on the island.
The prevalence of daily smoking is higher among people with low income levels (25%) than among people with high income (16%).
Other actions will be carried out by these associations throughout the month.
