Why do something about smoking?

The World Health Organisation has described tobacco smoking as the single greatest preventable cause of disease in the developed world.

In Australia, tobacco use causes more ill health and premature death than any other drug. In 2004-05, an Australian Government report estimated that active and passive smoking caused almost 15,000 Australian lives to be lost and cost the hospital system $669.6 million. ^[1] It has been estimated that around half of all smokers will die from smoking related diseases.

Our Vision

A society free from the harm caused by tobacco.

Quit SA was established in 1989 as the South Australian Smoking and Health Project. It is a joint initiative of the Heart Foundation (SA Division) and The Cancer Council South Australia.

Quit SA is the main provider for state-wide programs for cessation promotion and support, and works with young people to prevent uptake. Quit SA works extensively with other funded projects to make them more effective and sustainable. We also play a support role in advocating for, and supporting the extension of a smoke-free culture and environment.

With the ongoing support of sponsoring organisations, QUIT SA seeks to achieve our Vision of a South Australian community free from the harm caused by tobacco use.

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Our Mission

• Promote and support quitting
• Prevent the uptake of tobacco 
• Build community knowledge about the damage caused by active and passive smoking and the benefits of not smoking
• Advocate for policy and legislative changes

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Our Objectives

Quit SA objectives support the Strategy Areas 4, 5 and 6 of the South Australian Tobacco Control Strategy 2005-2010.

• Contribute to reducing smoking prevalence to 17% among adults
• Contribute to reducing the smoking prevalence of young people aged 12-17 to 10%
• Increase awareness about the damage caused by active smoking to more than 95% among both smokers and non-smokers
• Increase awareness about the damage caused by passive smoking to at least 90% among both smokers and non-smokers by 2010
• Support legislation and community action to ensure passive smoke exposure is substantially reduced or eliminated in all enclosed public places and workplaces

_{1. Collins DJ, Lapsley HM. The costs of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug abuse to Australian society in 2004/05. Canberra: Department of Health and Ageing; 2008. Monograph Series no.64.}

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