Warning on teen smoking risk
One in two people who start smoking as teenagers will eventually die from tobacco-related diseases, Substance Abuse Minister Jane Lomax-Smith has warned.
National Youth Tobacco Free Day took place recently and Dr Lomax-Smith says this startling statistic highlights the dangers of becoming a lifetime smoker from adolescence.
“Currently, 23% of young South Australians aged 15 to 29 smoke. In the last two decades, youth smoking rates peaked at 38.5% in 1990.
“While youth smoking rates are declining across South Australia, sustained efforts are required to ensure this continues.
“South Australia’s Strategic Plan sets a target to reduce the percentage of young cigarette smokers by 10 percentage points between 2004 (when it was 27.9%) and 2014.
“The Rann Government is committed to achieving this target. However, preventing young people from becoming, or continuing to be, smokers requires family, school and community effort.
“Recent research revealed a significant number of young South Australians (about 40%) reported they were likely to quit smoking in response to the ban on smoking in pubs and clubs.
“Implementing strategies that help to make smoking socially unacceptable, while also raising awareness among young people about the harm caused by smoking, is vital.
“South Australian schools have actively worked with students to discourage smoking as part of their education strategies and this has been supported by comprehensive campaigns to quit.
“Smoking remains the single biggest cause of premature death in our state with about three South Australians dying each day from tobacco smoking related illness, or about 1,200 a year.”
State Government initiatives to reduce youth smoking rates include:
- Updated guidelines developed by Quit SA to help schools develop curriculum, policies and support strategies to address youth smoking.
- Banning the promotion and display of cigarettes at temporary stalls at youth oriented events.
- Restrictions on purchasing cigarettes from vending machines.
- Banning the accumulation of customer loyalty points and reward schemes through tobacco product purchases.
- Banning the sale of fruit-flavoured cigarettes.
Young people deciding to go smoke-free can get assistance from Quitline on 13 78 48.
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