ASH Australia information parents children tobacco smoking Australia cigarettes


	ASH Australia: information for parents
	*In Australia, a child under 14 dies from tobacco every 10 days.* 140,000 Australian schoolchildren smoke regularly - and many more are exposed to tobacco smoke in homes, cars and public places. See how ASH and many other health and child welfare groups are campaigning to Protect children from tobacco On this page you'll find resources for parents concerned about children, smoking and secondhand smoke. Click below for... LATEST NEWS - political developments and new research LATEST RESEARCH - how smoking, passive and pre-birth intake harms children; and what influences children to smoke and not to smoke TOBACCO COMPANIES TARGET CHILDREN - despite their claims to the contrary ILLEGAL SUPPLY TO CHILDREN - and how it can be stopped OTHER RESOURCES - powerful anti-smoking ads, useful sites and services See our smokers' page* for info on how to quit - and help kids quit* LATEST NEWS See also latest HEALTH RESEARCH on tobacco and children New child protection laws in effect March 2010: New laws protecting children from tobacco smoke and promotion are sweeping into place around Australia. In the ACT, tobacco products went out of sight in shops on January 1 in all retail outlets except tobacconists; and in NSW's "larger" retailers (more than 50 staff), "smaller" shops to follow by July 1. Cars carrying children must now be smokefree. See NSWhealth info including legislation and factsheets These reforms weathered an aggressive tobacco industry scare campaign: see earlier ASH release 21/7/08 and Philip Morris scares retailers - and the truth about their arguments The ACT out-of-sight retail laws will include tobacconists by end-2010 - the fastest complete deadline of any Australian jurisdiction. Also banned are tobacco vending machines, flavoured/scented cigarettes, and tobacco in shopper reward schemes. The ACT will also make all public eating and drinking areas 100% smokefree, however enclosed or otherwise, by the end of 2010. Children's events will also be smokefree. See ACT Tobacco Act and Information on the changes from 28/2/09 Queensland has now made cars carrying children smokefree - and ACT is also considering it, with most submissions very supportive. The NT government has also committed to making eating and drinks service areas, indoors and outdoors, totally smokefree by January 2011 - remaining licensed smoking areas must be free of meal consumption, drinks service, entertainment and gaming. Legislation to end shop display of tobacco and make cars carrying children smokefree has been proclaimed in Victoria. Its Tobacco Amendment (Protection of Children) Act 2009 makes cars carrying children under 18 smokefree; ends sales from temporary outlets - e.g. race days, music festivals; bans tobacco products targeting young people; and will put all tobacco products out of sight in general shops by Feb. 2011. See the bill at introduction See Victorian government strategy In WA, a new law will protect children, employees and public health (from Sept 2010) by: - ending tobacco display in shops; - making cars carrying children under 17 smokefree; - making children's playgrounds and patrolled beaches smokefree; - making unlicensed al fresco dining areas, and 50% of licensed al frescoes, smokefree; and - strengthening rights of employees to refuse to work in smoking areas. See WA bill and explanation under T: "Tobacco...2008" LATEST RESEARCH (see more health research on ASH Latest Research page) TOBACCO SMOKE HARMS CHILDREN IT'S A FACT - SMOKING, SECONDHAND (PASSIVE) SMOKING AND INTAKE OF TOBACCO SMOKE IN THE WOMB HARMS CHILDREN. *Health effects of smoking* See brief summary (updated 2007) from The Cancer Council NSW - and note that the evidence is growing all the time! Here are just some of the most recent studies... Maternal secondhand exposure causes low birthweight and abnormalities 20/1/10: Major international review of studies on impact of passive smoking on pregnancy confirms it causes lower birthweight and increased birth abnormalities. Review of 76 articles, data from over 130,000 women, concludes that exposed women "have increased risks of infants with lower birthweight, congenital anomalies, longer lengths, and trends towards smaller head circumferences..." See review abstract Smoking while pregnant almost triples risk of low birthweight 2009: Smoking while pregnant almost triples risk of low birthweight - on average, smoker's baby will be more than 100gms lighter and half a cm shorter. Study of 1400 mother-baby pairs in European Journal of Pediatrics. Quitting early in pregnancy cuts the reduction. See study abstract Secondhand exposure doubles children's lung cancer risk 2009: Secondhand smoke exposure in childhood linked with more than doubled lung cancer risk among never-smokers, says study in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. See study abstract Babies' exposure boosts adult emphysema risk 2009: Prenatal and postnatal exposure of babies to secondhand smoke increases their risk of emphysema as adults, says study of 1700 non-smokers in American Journal of Epidemiology. See study abstract Secondhand smoke doubles and worsens chronic rhinosinusitis 2009: Childhood or current exposure to secondhand smoke more than doubles risk of chronic rhinosinusitis, suggests Johns Hopkins University study in American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy. Severity of nasal blockage, discharge and headaches also affected. See study abstract Study of smoke harm for children shows urgency of smokefree public places 2009: Study showing secondhand smoke harm to blood vessels of toddlers and adolescents shows why we need public places (especially outdoor dining areas) 100% smokefree. Combined impact of smoke exposure and obesity. See Protecting Children media release 24/11/09 Pregnant smoking boosts children's psychosis risk 2009: Women who smoke when pregnant increase their babies' risk of developing psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions by 20%, says British Journal of Psychiatry study of 6000+ 12-year-olds by four UK universities. See full study Secondhand smoke exposure increases preschoolers' behaviour problems 2009: Survey of parents of 5000+ preschool-aged children in Bavaria shows exposure to secondhand smoke at home increases reported rate of hyperactivity/inattentiveness behaviour problems - more than doubling incidence in children most exposed. See study abstract Children's passive smoking may clog their arteries at an early age 2009: Not just older arteries are clogged by secondhand smoke exposure, says a European Heart Journal study - children can suffer this early. Boosts calls for all child-accessible areas to be smokefree by law. See Protecting Children from Tobacco release 24/7/09 with link to study abstract Secondhand exposure in pregnancy increases children's asthma symptoms 2009: Pre-schoolers are 45% more prone to asthma-related wheezing and rashes if their mother is exposed to secondhand smoke, says a study in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. The authors suggest laws should "reinforce elimination of... exposure of pregnant women." See abstract Under-3s' acute gastroenteritis risk doubled by passive smoking 2009: Secondhand smoke exposure more than doubles young children's risk of acute gastroenteritis, says a 12-month study of 260 under-threes. See study abstract Secondhand smoke affects babies' brains to cause SIDS 2009: Australian study shows not just prenatal smoke in utero but also secondhand smoke after birth changes babies' brains to make them more susceptible to Sudden Infant Death syndrome. See Brain journal abstract and link to full study See Sydney University report 23/4/09 *More studies on smoking and SIDS:* - Smoking when pregnant has double-whammy SIDS impact of lowering birthweight and damaging lungs. See 2008 US study abstract - Smoking now the main preventable factor in SIDS deaths. Research review shows more than 80% of mothers of SIDS victims are smokers. See 2007 review of studies See 2006 Lancet study Hear or read ASH comment on ABC radio's PM 16/10/07 Secondhand smoke implicated in teen footballer's sudden death 2008: An autopsy in Italy links secondhand smoke exposure in sudden death of 13-year-old soccer player. Uni of Milan autopsy report in American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology calls for cardiovascular examination of young athletes to consider smoke exposure. See study abstract Passive smoking in cars may be hooking children 2008: Survey of almost 1500 children aged 10-12 in Addictive Behaviors has found secondhand smoke exposure in cars may affect nicotine dependence symptoms. Authors call for "interventions that promote non-smoking in motor vehicles." See study preview Secondhand smoke raises child ear infection risk 2008: Australian report finds ear infections could be cut by 16% in non-Aboriginal and 27% in Aboriginal children by removing secondhand smoke exposure. Perth-based Telethon Institute for Child Health Research report in Medical Journal of Australia. See Telethon Institute release 19/5/08 Smoking stunts boys, doesn't make girls thinner 2008: Smoking doesn't help girls lose weight - but does make boys shorter by around 2.5cm, says study in Annals of Epidemiology. Study of over 400 boys and 400 girls aged 12-13 confirms earlier research on tobacco use and weight. See study abstract and Sydney Morning Herald report 26/3/08 Youths can be hooked in two days 2007: Study on youth dependence in Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine says some youths lose autonomyover tobacco within two days of first inhaling; dependence, withdrawal symptoms and failed cessation attempts can precede daily smoking. See abstract, link to full study Even low passive exposure causes child vascular harm 2007: Exposing children even to low levels of secondhand smoke increases their risk of developing cardiovascular disease in later life, says study from Finland. See the study Smoking dads can pass damaged genes to children 2007: Children can inherit genetic damage from smoking fathers, says study in Cancer Research. Canadian study used mice to show changes in DNA sequence of sperm cells can pass to offspring. See the study Other studies on genetic harm: - Smoking can also increase risk of passing obesity genes from father to son - See Genomics report 12/05 - Smoking while pregnant may cause permanent damage to foetal genes - increasing cancer risk in later life. See 2005 study Smoking is a heartbreaker - even for the young at heart 2007: Young adult smokers may seem healthy, but smoking causes significant harm to their hearts, says study in Chest journal. See ASH/National Heart Foundation media release 17/4/07 See study abstract *Pre-2007 research* Pregnant women 'program' kids to smoke 2006: Children whose mother smoked during pregnancy almost three times more likely to take it up as teens, says Australian study in Tobacco Control. Addiction may be "programmed" into babies by nicotine through the umbilical cord. See Melbourne Age report 28/11/06 See full study Pregnant smokers' future offspring more likely to be obese in adolescence 2006: Children of mothers who smoked during pregnancy are 40% more likely to be obese in adolescence, says Australian study of 3,000+ children in American Journal of Epidemiology. See the study Babies may absorb smoke residue in the home 2006: Crawling babies explore the world by touching - and tasting - anything they can get their wet little hands on. Including smoking residue. See research in USA Today 7/8/06 Parental smoking may boost child leukaemia risk 2006: American Journal of Epidemiology study of smoking fathers shows children suffer increased risk of leukaemia from their parents' secondhand smoke. See study Smoking parents expose children to cancer-causing chemicals 2006: New parents who smoke put their infants in danger because secondhand smoke contains cancer-causing chemicals, says study in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. See HealthDay News report 12/5/06 See media report and study Smoking while pregnant linked to child hyperactivity and unruly behaviour 2005 report in The Australian on new UK study linking smoking while pregnant with antisocial behaviour and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). See also study abstract, British Journal of Psychiatry Parents' smoking may discolor kids' gums 2005: Secondhand smoke, say Japanese researchers, may discolour children's gums. Abstract in Pediatrics. Cognitive harm to kids from secondhand smoke exposure Research shows passive smoke - even a little - shaves points off kids' IQ, harms reading, maths and reasoning skills. Just going outside isn't good enough 2004: SIDS & Kids says your smoking outdoors helps your kids - but not as much as giving up altogether. Passive smoke may damage children's hearts Research shows even moderate passive exposure can cause children to develop serious heart problems. Passive smoking link with kids' asthma German study finds maternal smoking has a significant impact in development of child asthma. And see also... Kids from smoky homes more likely to miss school Study shows the impact of smoky homes on school absences due to respiratory illness. *WHAT INFLUENCES CHILDREN TO SMOKE (AND NOT TO SMOKE)?* Very good *Quit factsheet* outlines the best research evidence Exposure to shop display increases youth smoking 2009 study in Tobacco Control shows greater exposure to tobacco displays at point of sale "strongly associated" with increased youth uptake and continuation of smoking. NZ study of 28,000 students aged 14-15. Authors recommend comprehensive bans on retail display. Paynter et al, doi:10.1136/tc.2008.027482 Tobacco Control 2009;18;268-274 See full study pdf Watching smoky movies can double teen uptake 2009: Exposure to high levels of smoking scenes in movies can double smoking uptake between early teens and young adulthood, says US study in Pediatrics. See study ASH and our allies want "counter-ads" shown in front of any film with smoking - an effective way to dull the impact of smoking images. Please go to this Cancer Council NSW webpage for more information. Family has big influence on quitting 2005: Family plays a bit part in helping people quit smoking, says this release from the Cancer Institute NSW. Kids learn early to choose tobacco, study finds 2005: Children as young as two are influenced by whether their parents smoke. In a study of 2 to 6-year-olds, children who were told to "shop" for groceries for a doll were four times more likely to choose cigarettes if their parents smoked. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. TOBACCO COMPANIES TARGET CHILDREN See US court judgment on tobacco industry's history of targeting children How big tobacco promotes smoking to young people Despite advertising bans, the tobacco industry is still using a range of channels - film, fashion, music and publications - to hook their mostly young target markets. See how we can Close the TAPS on tobacco promotion to kids Exposure to shop display increases youth smoking 2009 study in Tobacco Control shows more exposure to tobacco displays at point of sale means more youth smoking. The NZ study of 28,000 students aged 14-15 found youth exposure to shop displays " strongly associated" with starting and continuing smoking. See full study pdf Film smoking encourages kids to light up 2003 study (in The Lancet) shows on-screen smoking encourages kids to smoke. See Cancer Council NSW Smoking in movies webpages with links to taking action - including current campaign: ILLEGAL SUPPLY TO CHILDREN Though it's illegal to supply cigarettes to children, over 140,000 Australian school children are weekly smokers - and up to a quarter obtain their cigarettes from retailers (ASSAD survey 2007). For best practice on compliance monitoring and enforcement see National Drug Strategy report - including legal advice confirming it's not "entrapment" to involve young people in test operations. See what Australian and overseas governments are doing about Protecting children from tobacco Tobacco sales to children (2007 factsheet) Access to cigarettes by minors is still a major problem despite laws that fine retailers for the illegal supply of cigarettes to young people under 18. Selling death to kids Do you have information about tobacco smuggling, illegal sales to kids or trading in illicit tobacco, known as "chop chop"? If so, report law breakers to the Australian Tax Office's hot line at 1800 060 062 or email illegaltobacco@ato.gov.au with details. OTHER RESOURCES See our smokers' page for info on how to quit Protecting children from tobacco ASH and partners' coalition - news, research and resources on smoke exposure and tobacco promotion to children - and how to prevent it. Retail display of tobacco - how it encourages children to smoke, and why health groups want it out of sight. Smoke exposure of children in cars, dining areas and other public places. And more. Smarter than Smoking Good WA-based site for people working in schools, communities and other youth settings. Info and resources to help prevent young people from starting to smoke. Powerful anti-smoking ads on YouTube Have a look at some of these moving and sad videos from around the world about tobacco and its impact on smokers and their families. See also very moving ads from WA featuring Zita Roberts who died at 38, and her family. OxyGen Useful website from Smoking and Health Project (SA), Smarter than Smoking Project (WA) and Quit Victoria. Promotes healthy lifestyle choices and provides information on tobacco health harm. Car and Home: Smoke Free Zone Website of the ETS & Children Project - dangers of passive smoke to children and what can be done. From ETS & Children Taskforce (NSW Health, SIDS, Asthma, Heart, Cancer). Smoking, smoke exposure and SIDS 2009 position paper from SIDSandKids on tobacco smoke exposure - a major cause of infant death.
	Page last updated on 4/3/10

ASH Australia: information for parents

ASH Australia:
information for parents