Tobacco in AustraliaTobacco in AustraliaWhat needs to be doneWhat needs to be done

The problemThe problem

Tobacco: our No. 1 preventable health, drug problemTobacco: our No. 1 preventable health, drug problem

Kills around 15,000 Australians a yearKills around 15,000 Australians a year Biggest preventable cause of cancer and heart disease, Biggest preventable cause of cancer and heart disease,

our two leading causes of early deathour two leading causes of early death Linked with all seven diseases causing most deaths   Linked with all seven diseases causing most deaths    Responsible for over $31b pa in costs to the Australian economy Responsible for over $31b pa in costs to the Australian economy    Responsible for 56% of total drug abuse costs – Responsible for 56% of total drug abuse costs –

more than alcohol and all other drugs combined  more than alcohol and all other drugs combined   Causes over $15b in workplace costs – Causes over $15b in workplace costs –

twice as much as alcohol and all other drugs combined twice as much as alcohol and all other drugs combined Over 750,000 hospital bed days a year - 8% by children under 15 Over 750,000 hospital bed days a year - 8% by children under 15 Over $600m annual hospital costsOver $600m annual hospital costs Around 18% of Australians 14yrs+ still smoke – around 3 millionAround 18% of Australians 14yrs+ still smoke – around 3 million Indigenous smoking rate much higher – around 50% ! Indigenous smoking rate much higher – around 50% !

Tobacco: our No.1 preventable killerTobacco: our No.1 preventable killer

2,995

2,416

2,279

1,705

1,668

1,662

661

213

119

278

1,084

15,511

AIDS

Drowning

Homicide and violence

Poisoning

Alcohol dependence (incl. cirrhosis)

Road traffic accidents

Falls

Drug dependence

Suicide

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Breast Cancer

Smoking

Australia, 2003: Tobacco kills more than all homicides, alcohol and all other drugs, road and all other accidents, and all infectious/contagious diseases… COMBINED !

Children at riskChildren at risk

36 Australian babies and children under 15 die each year 36 Australian babies and children under 15 die each year (one every 10 days) from involuntary (one every 10 days) from involuntary (in utero(in utero  & secondhand)   & secondhand) tobacco smoke    tobacco smoke   

Over 60,000 hospital bed days a year occupied by children Over 60,000 hospital bed days a year occupied by children as a result of tobacco exposure   as a result of tobacco exposure  

Tobacco smoke now the leading preventable cause of SIDS deaths  Tobacco smoke now the leading preventable cause of SIDS deaths  Over 140,000 (9% of) Australian schoolchildren smoke at least Over 140,000 (9% of) Australian schoolchildren smoke at least

weekly – including 18% of 17-year-oldsweekly – including 18% of 17-year-olds Children have ready access to cigarettes: 23% of schoolchildren Children have ready access to cigarettes: 23% of schoolchildren

aged 12-17 (and 29% of 16-year-olds) are supplied illegally by shops     aged 12-17 (and 29% of 16-year-olds) are supplied illegally by shops     80-90% of smokers are under 18 when they start – half are <16 80-90% of smokers are under 18 when they start – half are <16 

Others especially at riskOthers especially at risk

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peopleAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities with high smoking ratesCulturally and Linguistically Diverse communities with high smoking rates Adolescents and young adults – especially pregnant women Adolescents and young adults – especially pregnant women

and those intending to start families, and their partnersand those intending to start families, and their partners Mental health clients and staffMental health clients and staff Inmates, detainees and staff in correctional settingsInmates, detainees and staff in correctional settings Patients/clients and staff in some health care settingsPatients/clients and staff in some health care settings Staff/patrons in hospitality/gaming/dining venues Staff/patrons in hospitality/gaming/dining venues

and other smoky workplacesand other smoky workplaces

The economic costThe economic cost

Smoking costs Australia a staggering $31bn a year – conservative Smoking costs Australia a staggering $31bn a year – conservative estimate of real social cost, estimate of real social cost, mostly to health system and business. mostly to health system and business. This dwarfs the $6.7b contributed by tobacco excise.This dwarfs the $6.7b contributed by tobacco excise.

And who pays? And who pays?

Business and GovernmentsBusiness and Governments – in health care costs; – in health care costs; in lost productivity – early retirement, sickness absence etcin lost productivity – early retirement, sickness absence etc

SmokersSmokers – half of all long-term smokers will eventually die from – half of all long-term smokers will eventually die from tobacco – losing an average of 10 years life; half of these will die during tobacco – losing an average of 10 years life; half of these will die during productive middle age, losing 20-25 years of life   productive middle age, losing 20-25 years of life  

Non-smokersNon-smokers including: including:- Babies born to smoking mothers have lower birth weights and - Babies born to smoking mothers have lower birth weights and increased risk of SIDS and respiratory diseasesincreased risk of SIDS and respiratory diseases- Workers and patrons - substantial costs incurred where people are - Workers and patrons - substantial costs incurred where people are exposed to tobacco smoke in workplaces and public places exposed to tobacco smoke in workplaces and public places     

What should we do?What should we do?

Raise tobacco prices Raise tobacco prices – especially by increasing taxes– especially by increasing taxes

Increase government investment Increase government investment in mass media quit campaignsin mass media quit campaigns

Extend smokefree public places/workplaces Extend smokefree public places/workplaces lawslaws

End all forms of tobacco advertising, End all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion promotion and sponsorshipand sponsorship

Address special needs of disadvantaged Address special needs of disadvantaged populations to maximise quittingpopulations to maximise quitting

A global epidemicA global epidemic (Figures are for the 20th century)