VANCOUVER — An annual study that tracks smoking among Canadians shows that teens are starting to shake off their nicotine habits, or aren’t picking up the habit at all. Fifteen per cent of teens told Statistics Canada in 2006 that they smoked either daily or occasionally, compared to 18 per cent who said in 2005 that they smoked. The number of teens who identified themselves as daily smokers declined from 11 per cent in 2005 to nine per cent in 2006. The number of women aged 15 to 19 who smoke fell from 18 per cent to 14 per cent. Meanwhile, smoking rates for men aged 15 to 19 fell from 18 per cent to 16 per cent. B.C. has the lowest rate of smokers in Canada with 16 per cent. The national average is 19 per cent. The study shows all the government, community and school efforts are working, said a spokeswoman for Vancouver Coastal Health’s Tobacco Reduction Strategy. ‘We’re trying to denormalize tobacco and send the message that most kids don’t smoke, most people don’t smoke,’ said Roopy Khatkar. ‘By raising awareness on the harmful effects of tobacco use and second-hand smoke, […]