News at the weekend that Tasmania was runner-up in the Australia Medical Association’s Dirty Ashtray Award shows the state still has a long way to go.
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Tasmania has the second highest prevalence of smoking in Australia at 18.5 per cent, however there have been movements by all levels of government to curb the bad habit.
Smoking is no longer legal in licensed venues around the state and the Launceston City Council has created a number of smoke-free areas to protect residents and visitors from exposure to second-hand smoke.
The state government has tripled the tobacco seller licensing fee and Health Minister Michael Ferguson is on record as saying that amendments to the Public Health Act will assist in improving the state’s response to tobacco control.
The AMA argues that the government needs to provide more adequate funding to support tobacco education campaigns.
In 2014/15, Australians living in regional/remote locations, those who were unemployed and those who were most disadvantaged were significantly more likely to smoke.
Minister Ferguson has said changes to the act will assist in “spending into Quit campaigns in Tasmania”, but these campaigns need to target the most vulnerable in the community – and not just with new fliers at community centres.
According to the AMA, about 1.8 million Australians currently smoking will be killed by their habit.
In 2014/15, the Australian Bureau of Statistics Australia Health Survey showed that one in seven Australians aged 15 years and over smoked daily with an additional 2 per cent smoking irregularly.
The health implications from smoking are massive, but each individual is entitled to their own choice. It is hoped that they make the right one not only for themselves but also their family and friends.
Tasmania has one of the worse cardiovascular rates in Australia and one of the preventative risk factors is smoking. According to the Heart Foundation, smoking is the single most important cause of ill health and death in Australia.
Minister Ferguson is also on record saying there is a $6.4 million commitment to preventative health.
It will be interesting to see how this money is spent to curb smoking in the state.