The answer might seem obvi-ous but the reality for aboriginals is more complex. And it's facile to suggest, as I did, that the large number of aboriginal smokers is due to the low cost of cigarettes for status Indians, who pay no excise or sales taxes. It's used for prayer, a way of communicating with the Creator. But young aboriginals, like their counterparts elsewhere, smoke because of social pressure and, all too often, poverty. DeLeary growls with frustration.
Many people are in that situation.
The long-term component is really what I'm concerned about now. Reading says lung cancer, heart disease and diabetes have a common etiological thread. It's poor diet, it's lack of exercise, all these things. John O'Neil of the department of community health sciences at the University of Manitoba, points out physicians are aware of the difficulties. They know how difficult it is if they have somebody come in who needs to quit smoking, get more exercise or change their diet.