The Department of Health and Human Services is committed to reducing tobacco related harm in the Tasmanian population.
Tobacco smoking kills more than 19,000 Australians every year and is recognised as being the single largest preventable cause of premature death and disease in Australia . It is a major risk factor associated with coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, numerous cancers, chronic respiratory conditions and a variety of other diseases and conditions. This places a large burden on the community and governments and costs approximately $21 billion every year. This includes costs from involuntary exposure to environmental tobacco smoke or passive smoking.
Research indicates that one in every two long-term smokers will die from smoking and that half of these deaths will occur in middle age. The Department's Health Indicators Report 2003 estimates that 571 Tasmanians die each year from causes related to tobacco smoking.
Tobacco Use in Tasmania
Smoking rates in Tasmania have increased, despite decreases in national trends.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2004 estimated that 25.4% of the Tasmanian population aged 18 years and over were current smokers. This equates to 86,400 people and includes both daily (24.1%) and occasional smokers (1.3%). The previous National Health Survey in 2001 found the smoking rate to be 24.4%. The same survey also found smoking to be most prevalent in the 18 to 34 age group with 39.6% of males and 32.7% females. The high rates of smoking among younger females of child-bearing age is a major concern not only for their own health and wellbeing but also because of the impact on fertility rates, pregnancy outcomes (such as miscarriages and premature births) and on babies and small children exposed to tobacco smoke.
In comparison, the National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2004 which surveys people aged 14 years and over found a national smoking rate of 17%. Tasmania was recorded as having the second highest proportion of daily smokers in Australia at 21.5%. It also found 22% of Tasmanian males identified as being regular smokers in contrast to the national average of 18.6% and 21% of females compared to the national average of 16.3%.
The Tasmanian component of the Australian Secondary Schools Alcohol and Drug Survey conducted in 2005 estimated that 4,300 young Tasmanians were regular smokers, representing 12% of the population under 18 years of age. The same survey found a significant decline between 2002 and 2005 of the proportion of males and females aged 16 to 17 years who smoked from 24% to 14%, although this age group was still more likely to have smoked than 12 to 15 year olds.
Alarmingly, a large number of Tasmanian women continue to smoke during pregnancy and 50% of the Tasmanian Aboriginal adult population are current smokers.
Tobacco Policy
Tobacco policy in Tasmania is guided by the Tasmanian Tobacco Action Plan 2006-2010: A Framework for Action . The plan was developed by the Department of Health and Human Services in consultation with key stakeholders to provide strategic direction for the implementation of initiatives that aim to reduce the harm caused by tobacco use in Tasmania . The plan is based on policy and strategic directions provided by the following strategies and plans:
- National Drug Strategy and Tasmanian Drug Strategy 2005-2009
- Tasmania Together; and the
- National Tobacco Strategy 2004-2009.
A major highlight of the Plan is the establishment of a Tobacco Coalition .