Report on the 5th edition of No Tobacco Month

Throughout this month of November, despite the health crisis and the second lockdown, French citizens have participated in various actions set up as part of No Tobacco Month. It is time to take stock.

The 5th edition of No Tobacco Month ended on Monday, November 30, 2020. This national campaign to help people quit smoking was designed and conducted by Santé Publique France, in association with the Ministry of Solidarity and Health and Health Insurance.

Promising support systems

In the numbers:

• #MonthWithoutTobacco: more than 125,000 smokers have joined this action;
• "40 Day Program": More than 85,000 people signed up for this new program. Participants received a daily email offering them advice, activities or challenges to help them on the path to quitting smoking;
• The Tabac info service e-coaching application: this application, created by Health Insurance, in collaboration with Public Health France and the French-speaking Tabacology Society, has been downloaded by more than 123,000 people;
• 4,405 structures have created an account and placed an order on partner sites[1] [2].

Viêt Nguyen Thanh, head of the Addictions unit at Santé publique France, warmly congratulates all the smokers who have decided to join #MonthSansTabac, despite this very particular context, a source of concern. She specifies that health professionals are always there to support smokers in quitting smoking, and mentions the existence of the Tabac Info Service system. The results above demonstrate the relevance and importance of support in quitting smoking.

What is the interest behind these actions?

It is essential to remember that smoking is the leading cause of preventable death. Around 75,000 deaths were recorded in 2015 in metropolitan France. The CoviPrev survey, launched by Public Health France[3] , on March 23, 2020, during the first lockdown, revealed, at the end of March, that 27 % of the smokers surveyed had increased their tobacco consumption. 94 % of the daily smokers surveyed smoked 5 more cigarettes, on average, per day. It should be noted, however, that 19% of the smokers had reduced their consumption. The fight against smoking remains a priority for Public Health France. New actions will be scheduled from January 2021 to draw attention to the dangers of tobacco and the need to quit smoking.

©Tobacco Free Generation

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[1] Radioscoop, The 5th edition of the no-tobacco month takes stock, www.radioscoop.com (December 1, 2020, consulted on December 2, 2020). [2] Public Health France website, #MonthWithoutTabac: the 5th edition ends, www.santepubliquefrance.fr (December 1, 2020, consulted on December 2, 2020). [3] Public Health France, Covid-19: a survey to monitor the evolution of behaviors and mental health during the epidemic, www.santepubliquefrance.fr (November 27, 2020 - consulted December 2, 2020). DNF - For a Zero Tobacco World |