Below is the latest news from South Australia (latest at the top):
National Tobacco Campaign
29-09-2008 The National Tobacco Campaign has 6 new 30 second commercials. Quit SA will be airing the first three, Artery, Tumour and Brain from 5 October 2008 to December 2008. Tar, Lung and Eye will run for two weeks in April 2009. View the advertisements
Key Smoking Statistics in South Australia
22-09-08 New data on South Australian Smoking Prevalence has been released from the from Tobacco Control Research & Evaluation Unit. Smoking prevalence data is an indication of the response to tobacco control initiatives. South Australian smoking prevalence is measured with the Health Omnibus Survey, an annual household survey of approximately 3,000 respondents. Smoking rates in 2007 were 20.6%. Smoking rates among young people (aged 15-29 years) were 23% in 2007.
Most people in South Australia (smokers included) are aware of the negative health effects of both active and passive smoking. Overall, 95.8% of the population and 92.7% of smokers believe smoking causes illness and/or damage to the body. There was a significant increase in awareness of the total sample from 2006 to 2007. 86.5% (77.8% of smokers) agreed that passive smoking causes illness and/or damage to the body, with lung cancer again being the most commonly mentioned health effect of passive smoking (41.9% overall, 34.4% of smokers). The majority of South Australians (73.3%) reported that they were concerned about being exposed to passive smoking, with 67.7% of people reported being exposed to someone else’s tobacco smoke in the past two weeks.
Similarly, support for bans on smoking in workplaces, hospitality venues, and other public places, continues to increase. Overall, community support for bans in hotels was very high and above the target (86.4%) as was community support for bans in gaming venues (87.6%).
Source: Hosking, J & Hickling, J., ‘Progress against ‘the South Australian Tobacco Control Strategy 2005-2010’: Report 3: January - December 2007. Adelaide, Australia: Tobacco Control Research and Evaluation, The Cancer Council South Australia, June 2008.
Kids used as bait over tobacco laws
23-04-08: Questions have been raised over the use of minors as bait to catch out vendors who are willing to illegally sell them cigarettes. The Opposition claims the South Australian Government is breaching its own industrial relations laws by rewarding the undercover helpers with department store vouchers, rather than paying them. Children as young as 14 are regularly sent in to try to catch out cigarette retailers who are selling to minors.
Smoking bans in pubs working
14-04-08: THE six-month old smoking bans in licensed venues have been a success key stakeholders say. http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23534031-2682,00.html?from=public_rss
Clean Up Australian Day - Cigarettes top rubbish list18-02-2008: Cigarette butts remained the most commonly found rubbish item for the 12th year in a row, accounting for 12.2 per cent of all items found. Source: News.com.au
Smoking bans hit pokies
1-02-2008: Poker-machine takings have plunged by up to 25 per cent in some hotels as new smoking bans and fewer machines halt the relentless growth in gambling revenue. Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commission figures show revenue dropped from $217.22 million in the first quarter of 2007-08 to $190.76 million in the December quarter. Senator-elect Nick Xenophon, former state No Pokies MP, hailed the $26 million decline as the "most significant drop since poker machines were introduced" in 1994. Source: Adelaide NowBig rise in lung cancer25-01-2008: Private health insurance claims for lung cancer have soared 21 per cent for women and 24 per cent for men in five years, despite smoking rates falling to record lows. Health insurance giant MBF said the rise in lung cancer claims from 2002-06 was a deadly legacy of an era of few restrictions on sales of cigarettes and where they were smoked. Source: Herald Sun Firm doling out free cigarettes reprimanded9-01-2008: A marketing company hired by one of Australia's tobacco giants has been reprimanded by the Federal Health Department for recruiting non-smokers to take up the habit. The tactic has been described as underhanded and exploitative by doctors and the anti-smoking lobby, who want tobacco advertising laws to ban the tobacco industry from using market research and other types of viral marketing techniques. Source: The Sydney Morning Herald
Paris and Berlin ban cafe smoking 1-01-2008: Eight German states, including Berlin, have ushered in 2008 declaring their pubs and restaurants smoke-free. Almost a third of Germans smoke and the authorities in Berlin have decided not to enforce the restrictions actively for the first six months. In France, a law forbidding smoking in public places has now been extended to bars, cafes and hotels.View article (Source: BBC News)
Ilegal tobacco worth $100m seized over past year
19-12-2007: Customs CEO Michael Carmody says 40 separate attempts to smuggle tobacco have been foiled over the past 12 months with 30 arrests made.
View article (source: ABC News)Make your Quit Date on January 14th
14-12-2007: Quit SA Manager, Mr David Edwards says, “the beginning of a new year is a great time to set new goals and many people will try to quit smoking over that period. Our advice to those planning to quit this new year is to set a quitting date that improves your chances to success.” “A quit date two weeks into the new year gives you more time to plan and takes the pressure off quitting during the weeks including Christmas and New Years Eve,” he says.View Quit SA's Media Release
New research shows nearly 40% of smokers have a mental illness – and it’s costing them dearly
11-12-2007: SANE Australia is calling for urgent action to introduce quit smoking programs and supports
for people with a mental illness, following an Access Economics report, Smoking and Mental
Illness: Costs, that shows people with a mental illness make up 38.3% of all smokers.
The report, commissioned by SANE Australia, found the total financial cost of smoking by
people living with a mental illness is $33 billion a year, including costs of treatment for
related illnesses such as cancer and heart disease, as well as loss of productivity.SANE Australia Media Release
Anti-smoking pill carries warning
10-12-2007: A drug designed to curb cigarette cravings will carry new warnings of links with suicidal thoughts when it goes on sale in Australia next month. Packs of Champix tablets will now contain extra information warning that some patients have suffered from depression, agitation and suicidal thoughts while taking the drug.
View article from the Daily Telegraph
One in five South Australian women are ignoring health risks associated with smoking during pregnancy
3-12-2007: Pregnancy smoking rates in SA continue to be among the highest in the nation, with 19.1 per cent of the 18,000 women who gave birth last financial year continuing to smoke while pregnant.
Smoking ban clears the air
30-11-2007: “Since the start of the ban only three complaints have been lodged with the Health Department, clear evidence that the industry has made every effort to comply with the new laws.
“Removing second-hand smoke from enclosed public places is an enormous step forward for public health.”
View Minister Gail Gago’s Media ReleaseRann Government bans tobacco in unattended vending machines
22-11-2007: Smokers will be prevented from buying tobacco products from unattended vending machines from 1 June next year.Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Gail Gago says the legislative changes, just approved by Parliament, mean tobacco products can only be sold in vending machines that are staff operated or controlled by a token system available over a counter so that staff can verify the age of the purchaser.
View Minister Gail Gago’s Media Release
Cigarette pack displays 'tempt quitters'
22/11/2007: Displays of cigarette packs behind shop counters do tempt would-be quitters back to smoking, according to new research that claims to blow the lid off a tobacco industry myth. The world-first study led by Australian researchers found more than a third of smokers who were trying to quit or cut down were tempted to buy cigarettes as a direct result of seeing them on display.
Read article from The Australian
Australia in top five for smoking less, but also in top five for obesity
13-11-2007: For the lowest daily smoking rates by adults, the report shows Australia in fifth place on 17.7%, headed by Sweden (15.9%), the USA (16.9%), Portugal (17.0%) and Canada (17.3%).
While smoking rates continue to decline, obesity rates in Australians are high. Australia has the fifth highest adult obesity rate (21.7%), behind the United States (32.2%), Mexico (30.2%), the United Kingdom (23.0%) and Greece (21.9%). Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 13th Nov. 07
AIHW Media Release
New Smoking Restrictions Begin 1 November
31-10-2007: From midnight tonight smoking will be completely banned inside all pubs, clubs, bingo venues and the SkyCity Adelaide Casino. “The new bans bring these venues into line with all other enclosed workplaces and public places in South Australia,” said Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Gail Gago. “The ban on smoking in all enclosed areas of pubs, clubs, bingo venues and the Casino will protect those working in these establishments and their patrons from the harmful effects of passive smoking.
View Minister Gail Gago’s Media Release
Smoking Enforcement
31-10-2007: The Department of Health has 14 officers authorised under the Tobacco Products Regulation Act 1997 able to enforce the new point of sale regulations as well as smoking bans inside pubs, club, bingo venues and the SkyCity Adelaide Casino. These officers will visit all licensed venues to check compliance with the new bans as part of ad-hoc compliance checks, routine inspections and in response to complaints. View Minister Gail Gago’s Media Release
Smoke free for good campaign kicks-off26-09-07: The State Government is launching a new 30-second television commercial today reminding all South Australians that indoor smoking in pubs, clubs, bingo venues and the Adelaide Casino will be banned from November 1.View Gail Gago's Media Release
View the TV Commercial
More fines issues for smoking in cars26-09-07: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Minister Gail Gago today reminded motorists that it’s illegal to smoke in vehicles where children under 16 are passengers following a steady increase in the number of fines issued for the offence. “So far 40 drivers have either been issued with a $75 on-the-spot fine (29) or cautioned (11), an average of about 10 a month which is too many. “We’ve been the first state in Australia, and one of only a few places in the world, to introduce this law.View Gail Gago's Media Release
New quit smoking pill to hit market - CHAMPIX
28-08-07: The Age reported that a new pill designed to help smokers quit could hit the Australian market before the end of the year. The tablet medication has already been given market approval and has now won initial approval to be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). It works by stimulating the same receptors in the brain as nicotine, relieving the cravings and withdrawl symptoms of those giving up. A study published earlier this year concluded that those who take the drug were three times more likely to still be quit one year later compared to those who took a dummy pill.Victoria and NSW extend their smoke-free laws to include licensed venues
3-07-07: New South Wales and Victoria are the latest states to implement state-wide smoking bans for pubs and clubs, brought into action on July 2nd and July 1st respectively. The new smoke-free laws brought the states into line with the rest of the country, as Tasmania, Western Australia and Queensland implemented similar laws back in 2006.
New Release – The Burden of Disease and Injury Australia 2003
25-05-07: New figures released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimate that deaths caused by smoking have declined from 19,000 to just under 16,000 a year – but tobacco is still the single, largest preventable cause of death, disease and disability.
View Media Release from the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare
Smoking Doubles Your Risk of Stroke - Make World No Tobacco Day May 31st Your Day to Quit!
24-05-07: A new media campaign highlighting smokers ‘high risk of stroke’ begins this week. The new anti-smoking campaign is confronting emotionally, showing life after the disease. The idea being communicated is that stroke doesn’t always kill but can result in reduced quality of life for you and your family. View Quit SA's Media ReleaseNew Quit Media Campaigns
21-05-2007: In May two new anti-smoking commercials will be aired. 'Voice Within' deals with smoking and the increased risk of stroke and 'Which Disease' addresses smokers’ behaviour in response to graphic health warnings. Click here to learn more.....
World No Tobacco Day - May 31st18-05-2007: The theme of World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) for 2007 is Smoke-Free Inside. The aim is to promote the benefits of smoke-free environments, celebrate the growing momentum to become smoke-free, and to encourage the adoption of legislation that bans smoking in all workplaces and public places. Click here for more info......
Ban on smoking in cars with children from May 31st
28-03-2007: A ban on smoking in cars where children under the age of 16 are passengers will come into effect in South Australia from May 31 this year. Substance Abuse Minister, Gail Gago said the legislation - the Tobacco Products Regulation (Smoking in Cars) Amendment Bill 2006 - was a world first for the state.
View Gail Gago's Media ReleaseSA Government moves to ban tobacco purchases that contribute to customer loyalty reward schemes
08-02-2007: The SA government says rewarding smokers for purchasing cigarettes clearly sends the wrong message, especially when we are committed to reducing the number of people taking up smoking. The government aims to have the bans in place by November this year.
Quit SA 2005-2006 Annual Review
10-01-2007: The Quit SA 2005-2006 Annual Review is now available for download:
2005-2006 Annual Review (PDF 986kb)
Quit SA launches New Year Campaign
02-01-2007: Our latest campaign, called 'Echo' depicts smokers excuses not to quit and the 'echo' of consequences of not quitting. The message is 'Quitting is hard, not quitting is harder'.
Anti-smoking advertising campaign aimed at young people to be launched on Boxing Day.
20-12-2006: The $25 million campaign funded by the Federal government is designed to give young non-smokers good reasons why it is better not to take up smoking, while at the same time providing current smokers with credible, personally relevant reasons for quitting. More info:
www.quitnow.info.au
New Point of Sale restrictions for South Australia
18-12-2006: The display of tobacco products will be restricted in all retail outlets in South Australia under tough new regulations announced today by Mental Health and Substance Abuse Minister, Gail Gago. The restrictions come into effect on 1 November 2007.
Fire Danger Season is here: Quit Smking now for your safety.
1-12-2006: Carelessly discarded cigarettes can be a serious threat in hot, dry conditions, and are a common occurrence. In South Australia in 2004, cigarettes were the cause of 2.5 per cent of all bushfires, while it is estimated that over 7% of bushfires nationally are caused by discarded cigarettes.
Tobacco Education for Senior Students
15-11-2006: This week, every Year 11 English, Mathematics and Australian Studies teacher in SA received a launch CD for the new and exciting website developed by the Smarter than Smoking SA Project at Quit SA.
This week, every Year 11 English, Mathematics and Australian Studies teacher in SA received a launch CD for the new and exciting website developed by the at Quit SA. There is currently no universal requirement for curriculum activities on tobacco at the senior level across Australia and particularly South Australia. The aim of the website is to support teachers with exemplars to illustrate planning on tobacco for SACE Stage 1 Mathematics, English and Australian Studies subject areas. This site also aims to provide an efficient and reliable source of programming and assessment ideas for teachers as well as provide up-to-date information for students. To access the site, simply log onto: www.tobaccoeducation.org.au
Kiddie smokes off the market
10-11-2006: The State Government has banned the sale of 'kiddie packs' of cigarettes in South Australia. The kiddie pack by Dunhill split into two smaller packets, a design aimed at the youth market.
Call for greater tobacco control
31-08-2006: A US report finding nicotine doses in cigarettes are rising has prompted a call for greater regulatory control over tobacco in Australia. A study by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health found nicotine yields in cigarettes had increased ten per cent from 1998-2004. Nicotine levels in cigarettes could also be rising in Australia. Monitoring and reporting on the health impacts of tobacco content is not required under Australian law.
One quarter of SA mums smoke during pregnancy
17-08-2006: South Australia has one of the country's highest pregnancy smoking rates with one in four women ignoring the health risks and lighting up, according to a report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Quit SA has compiled the following list of some of the latest important international, national, state and local health reports, surveys and major studies on tobacco. The latest are at the top.
New study shows national tobacco campaign has saved around $740 million in health care costs
21-08-2008 A recent study in the journal Tobacco Control has evaluated the cost effectiveness of the National Tobacco Campaign "Every cigarette is doing you damage". The campaign which started in 1997 cost $9 million and reduced smoking prevalence by 1.4%, prompting almost 200,000 people to quit smoking. The report found that the campaign prevented around 55,000 deaths, gained 407,000 quality-adjusted life-years and saved more than $740 million in health care costs. Source: Susan F Hurley, Jane P Matthews. Cost-Effectiveness of the Australian National Tobacco Campaign. Tob Control. Published Online First: 21 August 2008.
2007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey: first results
28-04-2008 2007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey: first results presents summary data collected in Australia's most comprehensive national survey of drug use and related issues. The report shows that the proportion of the population aged 14 years or older who smoked daily declined from 17.4% to 16.6% between 2004 and 2007. This is one of the lowest daily smoking rates in the world.
Source: AIHW. 2007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey: First results. Canberra: AIHW; 2008. http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10579.
Social Costs of Tobacco
21-04-2008: A new report by the Australian Government estimates that the social costs of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug abuse to Australian society have risen to $56.1 billion in 2004-05. Tobacco alone costs $31.5 billion (56.2% of all drug related costs). In addition, the report estimates that almost 15,000 deaths a year are attibutable to tobacco.
WHO Unveils Global Effort to Fight Smoking
8-02-2008: One billion people may die of tobacco-related illness this century, almost all of them in developing countries, the World Health Organization warned yesterday as it rolled out an unprecedented global campaign to limit the spread of smoking. View article (source: washingtonpost.com)
WHO REPORT on the global TOBACCO epidemic, 2008 - The MPOWER package
Cigarettes get the chop - by 1.3cm
4-02-2008: Nipping out for a quick smoke could become even quicker, with tobacco giant Philip Morris planning to release a "snack-size" cigarette. The cigarette is shorter – 7.2cm compared with the regular 8.5cm – but will have the same potency. Marlboro Intense is aimed at employees who take quick outdoor cigarette breaks while at work. Source: The AustralianNICE advice on the best way to quit smoking27-02-2008The official advisory board for the U.K.'s National Health Service says that smokers ages 12 and older should be given nicotine patches to help them quit. The National Institute on Clinical Excellence said that while only adults should be offered stop-smoking drugs like varenicline and bupropion, smokers aged 12-17 should be given nicotine-replacement therapy like patches and gum "when there is clear evidence of nicotine dependence."
NICE Press Release
New guidelines for Nicotine Replacement Therapy use
20-02-2007
The Therapeutic Goods Association has approved new guidelines for Nicotine Replacement Therapy use - including how to use NRT to "Cut Down Then Stop". Some product warnings are changed to precautions. The guidelines were launched today in trade magazines and include key messages, processes, evidence, pharmacist flow chart and nicotine fact sheet.
See the guidelines at http://www.ashaust.org.au/pdfs/NRTguide0702.pdf
Reducing smoking has no health benefit
14-02-2007
A conclusion of a study that followed more than 50,000 men and women for over 20 years has found that people who reduce their cigarette intake by more than 50 per cent, are no less likely to die prematurely than others who continue to smoke heavily. The study in Tobacco Control looked at men and women aged between 20 and 49. This study proves quite clearly that the only safe way out of the risk caused by smoking is to quit, say the authors.
Reference: Health consequences of reduced daily cigarette consumption. Aage Tverdal and Kjell Bjartveit Tob Control 2006;15 472-480
ASSAD survey
01-02-2007
The Australian Secondary Students’ Use of alcohol and Drugs survey has been released showing a decline in the rates of cigarette smoking in 12-17 year olds. Seven per cent of 12-15 years olds smoked (tobacco) in 2005, compared with 15 per cent in 1999. The proportion of 16-17 years olds who smoked cigarettes declined from 30 per cent in 1999 to 17 per cent in 2005.
Deaths from smoking 21-09-2006
Professor Sir Richard Peto has released a new report which details smoking death related statistics in 40 countries, including Australia. Australian middle-age smokers lose an average of 23 years off their life expectancy. In Australia in 2000, 19,184 people died from smoking. Peto R, Lopez A, Boreham J, Thun M. June 2006. Mortality from smoking in developed countries 1950-2000 (2nd edition): Australia.
view the report
Tobacco Smoking in Australia: A Snapshot, 2004-05
A new report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics has found the age group with the highest rate of smokers are more likely to be between 18 and 34 years. Currently 23 per cent of adult indicated they were smokers in the period 2004-2005.
Smoking Rate Among Women Rising Worldwide, Report Says
08-08-2006
About 12% of women worldwide smoke, and the female smoking rate by 2025 is expected to increase to 20%, according to a report -- released by the International Network of Women Against Tobacco and based on World Health Organization data.
Secondhand Smoke Exposure in the Workplace: The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
28-06-2006
Secondhand tobacco smoke kills and should be immediately eliminated from all workplaces, says a new US Surgeon General's Report on secondhand smoke.
Heavy wrinkles could be a sign of lung disease
Thorax, 14-06-2006
Smokers' heavily wrinkled faces could be an early warning sign of a serious lung disease or COPD, suggests research published ahead of print in Thorax. COPD is an umbrella term for a range of progressive chronic lung diseases, such as emphysema and bronchitis, which block the airways and restrict oxygen flow around the body.
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