The city of Thionville inaugurated at the beginning of October its device of “Free city without tobacco”, which should make it possible to reduce the number of smokers in the agglomeration. Prevention and support actions are being carried out to act on this public health issue, such as the creation of 35 tobacco-free spaces in the city.
” What is a shame is that they do not put enough ashtrays in the parks precisely! »Wonders David, sitting on a bench in Wilson Park, in the city center of Thionville. It is precisely because this garden has become one of the 35 tobacco-free spaces of the city, on October 8, that users are invited to crush their cigarette ends at the entrance.
Gabriel, 15, hadn’t noticed the new signage that identifies these places, but the adolescent who ” sometimes smokes in the evening with friends “Considers the initiative to make sense:” It’s true that when you see someone smoking, it makes you want more »He comments.
Tobacco-free generation in 2030
It’s for prevent this trivialization of cigarette use that the city has decided to preserve certain public places: ” This is not to exclude smokers but to denormalize tobacco. The goal is for the youngest, especially children, to be as exposed as possible to smoking behaviors. The less exposed they are to this behavior, the less they will want to reproduce it in adulthood and growing up. »Explains Pauline Patout, health project manager for the Thionville urban area. At the same time, this initiative should also allow those who wish to quit smoking or who have quit to take advantage of places where they too will be less tempted to resume smoking.
The less young people are exposed to the behavior of tobacco, the less they will want to reproduce it in adulthood
Other benefits sought by this operation: reduce the effects of passive smoking, and fight against environmental pollution generated by the throwing of cigarette ends on the public highway, which degrades the living environment.
Help quitting smoking
This emblematic measure is part of the framework a real public health policy led by the city, specifically targeting tobacco: ” We are going to develop help to quit smoking: this will involve training all professionals, setting up specific actions to help quitting. We will also provide a lot of information on the effects of tobacco: everyone knows that it is bad for your health, but in detail, little is known about the consequences, other than those of the risk of developing a serious illness ” adds Pauline Patout.
The city has identified nearly 30% of smokers among its population, a level equivalent to that of the Grand Est, the 4th most tobacco consuming region in France. After three years of experimentation, the city hopes to reduce the number of tobacco users in the city.