Northern beaches smoking rates fall

SMOKING rates in northern Sydney are continuing to decrease, according to the latest statistics.

Smoking rates on the northern beaches are continuing to fall.

SMOKING rates in northern Sydney are continuing to fall, according to the latest statistics.

The smoking rate among adults has dropped to nine per cent which is the lowest in the state.

Paul Klarenaar, director of health promotion at Northern Sydney Local Health District, said supporting smoking bans in public places, promoting the NSW Quitline service, training health workers and working with local councils and youth agencies has contributed to this result.

Paul Klarenaar, director of health promotion at Northern Sydney Local Health District.

NSW Health’s executive director of population health Dr Jo Mitchell said the State Government’s efforts to curb smoking, the leading cause of disease and premature death in the state, are working.

More than $6 million was allocated in the 2017-18 State Budget for tobacco control including into the Cancer Institute NSW’s Quitline and iCanQuit services.

And since 2015, the Cancer Institute NSW has invested more than $22 million on public awareness and education campaigns for smoking cessation.

“Smoking is a dangerous habit, not just to smokers but those around them, and we are committed to reducing its impact on our lives,” Dr Mitchell said.

“That’s why I’m pleased to see our efforts result in a continued drop in smoking across NSW, from around 20 per cent in 2007 down to 15 per cent in 2016.”

The rate of smoking among secondary school students is also at an lowest of 6.7 per cent. “Enforcement and tough laws have also played a key role in these results, with more than 2,200 tobacco retailers inspected from July 2016 to June 2017,” Dr Mitchell said.