Yukoners are the lone holdouts in a nation-wide trend towards becoming smoke-free.

The rate of tobacco smokers is coming down in every province and territory in Canada except Yukon.

Yukon's medical health officer says young people who are starting to smoke seem to be skewing the Yukon numbers.

Yukon's medical health officer said the rates in the territory are bolstered primarily by teens. (istockphoto)

The Yukon government says it is doing what it can to help turn that trend around.

“I think we are making a difference and I think the reason we are making a difference is we are working in partnerships. We can't do this alone. It has really been helpful to have the nurses on board, to have this new initiative, "Leave the Pack Behind" with Yukon College on board, so I think we are making a difference, one smoker at a time or one quitter at a time,” said Sandy Duncan, a health promotion coordinator.

Duncan said they are promoting initiatives like an anti-smoking student film project.

She added that a contest to award prizes for people who can remain smoke-free for even a day are starting to show some results.