Smoking cessation, or quitting, has immediate and important health benefits for individuals of all ages. Ex-smokers have improved life expectancy and reduced risk of smoking-related disease, compared to continuing smokers (Fiore et al., 2000) (Victorian Smoking and Health Program, 1995). The proportion of ex-smokers in Australia has increased steadily since the mid-1970s, despite the highly addictive nature of nicotine (Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, 1999). However, around 80% of Australian smokers have made past, unsuccessful attempts to quit (Borland, 1990).
In the Hunter New England just under half (46.1%) of all males and slightly more (61.4%) females who reported being current smokers reported that they intended to quit smoking in the next six months, while just over half (51.1%) of males and just over a third (35.9%) of females reported that they were not planning to quit in the next six months.
Increasing the percentage of current smokers who have a successful quit attempt will reduce population smoking prevalence and tobacco-related morbidity and mortality. Access to evidence-based smoking cessation services for smokers who are motivated to quit is an integral component of a comprehensive tobacco control plan. The NSW Tobacco Action Plan 2006-2010 outlines a range of stakeholders and strategies to increase cessation opportunities. The Quitline (ph 131848) provides smoking cessation information and an advice service and is accessible for the cost of a local call throughout New South Wales. The Quitline has recently been extended to offer up to five call backs to quitters who would like extended support with their quitting. The Quitline is being promoted to both staff and patients of Hunter New England Health.
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For more information:
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Borland R, Hill D. Two month follow up on callers to a telephone quit smoking service. Drug and Alcohol Review. 1990; 9; 211-218
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Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy. National Tobacco Strategy 1999 to 2002-3: A Framework for Action. Canberra: Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, 1999
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Fiore MC, Baily WC, Cohen SJ, et al. Treating tobacco use and dependence. Clinical Practice Guideline. Rockville MD: US Department of Health and Human Service, June, 2000
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Public Health Division. NSW Tobacco Action Plan 2001-2004, Sydney: NSW Department of Health, 2001
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NSW Quitline phone 131848.
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US Department of Health and Human Services. The health benefits of smoking cessation. A report of the US Surgeon General. Rockville, MD: Office on Smoking and Health, 1990
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Victorian Smoking and Health Program. Tobacco in Australia: Facts and Issues. Quit Victoria, 1995. Online: www.quit.org.au/quit/FandI/welcome.htm
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Australian Bureau of Statistics Web site at www.abs.gov.au.
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Print version:
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Although this page can be printed directly from your Web browser,
a higher quality version of this entire page (graph, table and text)
is available as an Acrobat PDF file which can be printed or viewed on screen
using Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software).
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Downloadable files:
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The data contained in the table on this page are available for download as a CSV file which can be
imported into many software packages. The graph is available for download as an EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) file
and as an EMF (Enhanced Metafile Format) file. Files in these formats can be imported into most word processing,
presentation and graphics software packages.
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Rider:
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The information presented in this report result from analyses of a variety of social and health focused datasets. These datasets originate from a variety of sources including Hunter New England Health, the NSW Department of Health, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The timing of the release of these data to third parties is controlled by the owner of these data. It is therefore possible for these organisations to publish data that they have not yet made available to Hunter New England Population Health for analysis and release. Users should therefore check the publications of these organisations as it is possible that they may have published even more up to date information on Hunter New England than those available in this report. As this report is an ongoing project, the indicators presented will be updated as soon as possible after the release of all datasets to Hunter New England Population Health.
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Copyright notice:
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This work is copyright Hunter New England Area Health Service, 2005. It may be reproduced
in whole or in part, subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source. Commercial usage or sale is prohibited.
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Suggested citation:
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Hunter New England Population Health. Health in Hunter New England. Hunter New England Area Health Service, 2005. Available at:
http://www.hnehealth.nsw.gov.au/HHNE/beh/beh_smkquit.htm. Accessed (insert date of access).
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Produced by:
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Hunter New England Population Health,
Hunter New England Health, with assistance from:
Centre for Epidemiology and Research,
NSW Health.
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Last updated:
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15 December 2005
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See NSW Data:
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To view state data, see NSW Chief Health Officer's Report:
internet version,
intranet version
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