Below are just some of the latest important international, national, state and local health reports, surveys and major studies on tobacco. Summaries and links below, latest at the top, under these headings:

- HEALTH IMPACTS  (including deaths, foetal harm) 
  Under CANCERS, HEART/STROKES/VASCULAR, RESPIRATORY 
  and GENERAL/OTHER HEALTH EFFECTS 
               NEW: Chronic rhinosinusitis; low birthweight; breast cancer
- ADDICTIVENESS (including nicotine content) 
               NEW: Passive smoking in cars may hook children 
- SOCIAL/ECONOMIC IMPACTS (including public opinion) 
               NEW: Health insurers investing in death
- SMOKING AND QUIT RATES  
               NEW: Switching may hinder quitting
- TOBACCO PROMOTION 
              NEW: Shop display increases youth smoking
- RESEARCH RESOURCES (other)           

For latest SECONDHAND SMOKE research: 
see Smokefree Australia health research 

For more research on QUITTING: see ASH Australia's  smokers' page. 


HEALTH IMPACTS     (including death/disease rates)

CANCERS

A cancerous genetic mutation in every pack
8/12/09: DNA research published in Nature magazine has found tobacco is responsible for tens of thousands of genetic mutations causing lung cancers - the average smoker getting one  cancerous mutation for every 15 cigarettes.   See   ASH media release 18/12/09  and  study abstract  

Secondhand exposure may increase breast cancer risk

Dec. 2009: Cumulative secondhand smoke exposure may increase breast cancer risk in never-smoking post-menopausal women by up to 25%, says a study of over 50,000 women in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.  See  study abstract

Smoking may make second breast cancer more likely
8/9/09: Smoking may make a second breast cancer more likely, says a study published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. See abstract

Earlier studies on tobacco and breast cancer: 

- Women with smoking history 25% more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer
13/7/09: Study of more than 8,000 women patients over ten years at a US clinic has found that those with a smoking history are 25% more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer. The study has been published online in The Breast Journal. See  study abstract   

- Passive smoking NOT linked to breast cancer, says "Million Women" analysis
10/6/08: Analysis of data from more than 200,000 women shows no link between secondhand smoke exposure and development of breast cancer in never-smokers. Oxford University meta-analysis in the International Journal of Epidemiology says earlier findings "may have been distorted by some women becoming more likely to report past exposures because they knew they had breast cancer."  See  study abstract     

- But debate persists about tobacco and breast cancer - see  Boston Globe report 1/1/07  on the debate and evidence. 

- Women who start smoking as teens or before having first child and continue for at least 20 years may increase breast cancer risk by a third.   See  2005 study   

Heavy smoking linked with prostate cancer
16/7/09:  Heavier smoking increases the risk of prostate cancer - and the likelihood of dying from it, says a meta-analysis of 24 studies published online in the American Journal of Public Health. The authors conclude that ^"Observational cohort studies show an association of smoking with prostate cancer incidence and mortality. Ill-defined exposure categories in many cohort studies suggest that pooled data underestimate risk."  See  study abstract

Smoking raises women's risk of colorectal cancer by 20%
24/2/09: Women who had ever smoked have a 20% higher risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) than never-smokers, says a study in Cancer Causes Control  that tracked over 68,000 women. Authors say the findings "support the hypothesis that cigarette smoking is a preventable cause of CRC among women."  See  the study   

Earlier studies on tobacco and colorectal cancer: 
- Active and passive smoking linked to colon cancer.  See  2008 study abstract
- Review of 42 studies shows link between smoking and precursor lesions of colorectal cancer. See  Science Daily report 2/2/08  

Most male cancer deaths linked to smoking
22/1/09: A study in BMC Cancer  journal confirms smoking is linked to most male deaths from all forms of cancer, not just lung cancer. The survey of men who died of cancer in Massachusetts over 25 years found that more than 70% were linked to smoking.  See  study

Women's pancreatic cancer risk doubled by smoking
3/12/08: A study of more than a million middle-aged women shows smoking more than doubles the risk of pancreatic cancer. The study, using from the "Million Women Study", was published in the International Journal of Cancer.   See  study abstract 

Other studies on tobacco and pancreatic cancer: 
- "Smokeless" tobacco also increases pancreatic cancer risk.   See  2005 study abstract

Few aware of bladder cancer link

30/7/08: While most people know that smoking can cause lung cancer, a study in the Journal of Urology shows only a third of adults know that it is a major risk factor for bladder cancer - even among people who have the disease.  See  Reuters Health report 30/7/08 

Smoking linked to female genital cancers

7/7/08: Tobacco has been confirmed as a risk factor for invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva and vagina, by Danish study in the International Journal of Cancer 2008;122:2827-2834.  See  Reuters Health report 7/7/08 

Smoking multiplies HPV-16-related cervical cancer risk 
4/12/06: Cigarette smoking significantly raises the likelihood of cervical cancer connected with human papillomavirus (HPV-16), says a report in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.   See study abstract  

Other studies on tobacco and cervical cancer: 
- Smoking increases cervical cancer risk by 60%.  See 2006 UK abstract 

Parental smoking may boost child leukaemia risk
28/6/06: A study of smoking fathers has shown children suffer increased risk of leukaemia from their parents' secondhand smoke. The study was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. See  study

Smoking parents expose children to cancer-causing chemicals
12/5/06: New parents who smoke put their infants in danger because secondhand smoke contains cancer-causing chemicals. A study in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention found the chemicals in the urine of infants exposed to parents' smoking. See  HealthDay News report 12/5/06   See  media report and study

Smoking linked to prostate cancer progression 
Jan. 2006: Smoking influences progression and prognosis of prostate cancer through impact on related genes, a new study in Cancer  journal indicates.  See  abstract  or  full study 

Smokers up to 4 times more likely to get oral cancer
30/11/05: Smokers can be as much as four times more likely to get oral cancer - but more than 95% are not aware of the link, says a new study from the Cancer Council Victoria.  See QuitVic media release 30/11/05

Active and passive smoking cause cancer: world review
Major 2002 research review from WHO's International Agency for Cancer Research (IARC) says tobacco is connected with a wider range of cancers than previously thought; also confirms passive smoke causes cancer in non-smokers.  See the report  

HEART/STROKES/VASCULAR

Children's passive smoking may clog their arteries at an early age
24/7/09:  It's not just older people's arteries that can be clogged by secondhand smoke exposure, suggests a new study in the European Heart Journal - children can suffer this harm at an early age. The Protecting Children from Tobacco coalition says the finding lends weight to its call for all child-accessible areas to be made smokefree by law. See  Protecting Children from Tobacco media release 24/7/09  with link to the study abstract

"Tremendous" impact of smoking on heart, vascular and other deaths
11/5/09: Smoking is "strongly" related to cardiovascular and other causes of death, says a 30-year study of 54,000 men and women. Results presented at a preventive health conference in Stockholm provide a chilling picture of tobacco's "tremendous" long-term health impact.   See  conference site   - go to ABSTRACT BOOK DOWNLOAD, p. S26, abstract M137, Meyer HE et al

Secondhand smoke implicated in teen footballer's sudden death
Dec 2008: An autopsy in Italy has implicated secondhand smoke in the sudden death of a 13-year-old boy while playing soccer. The autopsy report in the American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology pointed to a coincidence of heart conditions including tobacco-related atherosclerosis. The boy lived with four smokers. The authors call for cardiovascular examinations of young athletes to consider smoke exposure.  See  study abstract

Young women who smoke double stroke risk
14/8/08: Younger women who smoke have more than double the risk of stroke compared to nonsmokers, with the heaviest smokers among them having nine times the risk, according to a study in Stroke journal.  See   Reuters news report 14/8/08 

Even low passive exposure causes child vascular harm
June '07: Exposing children even to low levels of secondhand smoke increases their risk of developing cardiovascular disease in later life, says this study from Finland.  See the  study

Smoking is a heartbreaker - even for the young at heart   
17/4/07: Though young adult smokers may appear healthy, smoking causes significant harm to their hearts, says a Polish study in Chest journal. Regular smoking harms the heart's ability to relax between beats, reducing its pumping capacity.   See  ASH/National Heart Foundation media release 17/4/07      See  study abstract

Smoking doesn't just hurt ageing hearts
This study in Tobacco Control  (Sept 2004) shows smoking quintuples the risk of non-fatal heart attacks in your late-thirties.  See  study 

RESPIRATORY

Secondhand smoke doubles and worsens chronic rhinosinusitis
Nov-Dec 2009: Childhood or current exposure to secondhand smoke more than doubles risk of chronic rhinosinusitis, suggests a Johns Hopkins University study in the American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy. Severity of the disease, which can causes nasal blockage, discharge and headaches, may also be worsened.  See  study abstract

Tobacco impact on asthma still widespread: review

12/10/09: Much work is left to reduce the impact of active and passive smoking on asthma, says a Finnish review of studies in Asthma journal. A high proportion of pregnant women smokes; children's exposure to secondhand smoke still continues. Asthma impact is significant and risk of COPD heightened. Legislative and healthcare cessation interventions are supported.  See  study abstract

Preschoolers with passive-smoking mums have worse asthma symptoms
22/7/09: Secondhand smoke exposure of women in the third trimester of pregnancy is linked with asthma and allergy-related symptoms in their preschool-aged children, says a study published online in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. The authors recommend that "Public health policies should be oriented not only towards smoking cessation, but also reinforce elimination of [secondhand smoke] exposure of pregnant women."   See study abstract

Women continue to suffer from smoking diseases
16/4/07: Deaths and hospitalisation from asthma and COPD have fallen for men, but not for women, says an Australian study in the Medical Journal of Australia. The authors say more anti-smoking campaigns highlighting the risk of respiratory conditions should be directed specifically at women. See  MJA media release 16/4/07

Asthma study backs smokefree cars campaign
10/3/07: A study in the Medical Journal of Australia shows teenagers risk of asthma is doubled by exposure to secondhand smoke in cars - the University of WA authors backing calls for banning smoking in cars carrying children.   See  ASH Australia media release 19/3/07  including link to the research

Long-term smokers six times more likely to develop incurable lung disease
17/10/06: At least one in four "hardened" smokers will develop Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). A study in Thorax journal says persistent smokers are six times more likely to get the incurable condition, which can include emphysema and bronchitis.  See  newkerala.com report 17/10/06      See the  study

Older women smokers at higher risk of emphysema
3/4/06: Fortysomething women who smoke are finding it harder to blow out - unlike our health system, unless more is done about COPD.  See   study abstract      See ASH Australia media release 3/4/06

GENERAL/OTHER HEALTH EFFECTS  (including general research on DEATHS)

Smoking while pregnant almost triples risk of low birthweight
2/12/09: Smoking while pregnant almost triples the risk of low birthweight - on average, the smoker's baby will be more than 100gms lighter and half a centimetre shorter. The study, based on 1400 mother-baby pairs, has been published online in the European Journal of Pediatrics. Quitting early in pregnancy significantly lessens the reduction. See  study abstract  

Smoking is a pain in the lower back
24/10/09: Daily smokers increase their risk of chronic lower back pain by almost 50%, says a large new study in Clinical and Investigative Medicine - and 20somethings almost double the risk. Back pain, experience by most people, is associated with estimated health and workplace costs of over $9b a year.  See  ASH Australia media release 24/10/09  with link to study abstract 

Pregnant smoking boosts children's psychosis risk

30/9/09: Women who smoke when pregnant increase their babies' risk of developing psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions, according to a study in The British Journal of Psychiatry. The study of over 6000 12-year-olds by four UK universities showed maternal smoking led to an increase of 20% in these symptoms.  See  full study   

Smokers' tongues fail taste test
20/8/09: A study has shown how cigarettes deaden the ability to taste. Smokers have fewer and flatter taste buds, says the study of the tongues of 62 Greek soldiers, published in BMC Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders.  See  the study

Call for smoking details on Australian death certificates
3/8/09: Australian experts have called for details of smoking status to be noted on death certificates as they are in several other countries. The data, argues the discussion paper in the Medical Journal of Australia, would allow more accurate monitoring of tobacco health impacts.  See  the paper 

Smoking is a big headache
26/6/09: Smoking more than five cigarettes a day may bring on headaches, and especially migraines, says a study in the Journal of Headache and Pain.  See  full text pdf

Quitting improves post-surgical healing

18/6/09: Even brief quitting before cancer surgery can help healing, says a review of studies in the Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.   See  study extract

Smokers' muscles tire more quickly
15/6/09: Smokers' muscles tire faster than those of non-smokers - no matter how much they smoke or for how long they've smoked, says a doctoral study from the Netherlands.  See

Science Daily report 15/6/09 

Under-3s' acute gastroenteritis risk doubled by passive smoking
20/5/09: 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
April 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 

Other studies on tobacco and SIDS: 
- Pregnant smoking has double-whammy effect on low birthweight and lungs.  See  2008 study abstract

- Tobacco smoke now the main preventable factor in SIDS deaths.  See  2007 review of studies    See  2006 Lancet study    Hear or read  ASH comment on ABC radio's PM 16/10/07

Secondhand smoke may cause dementia and other cognitive harm

12/2/09: Exposure to secondhand smoke may increase the risk of dementia and other cognitive impairment, says this study in the British Medical Journal.  The study of more than 5000 non-smokers over 50 was conducted by the Universities of Cambridge and Michigan.  See  study abstract     Smoking linked to dementia:  see previous 2007 study reported  here and  here 

Smokers still in the dark - better warnings needed
19/1/09: New research shows alarming numbers of smokers still don't spontaneously identify heart disease, emphysema or cancer as smoking harms, and many believe the dangers are exaggerated. Quit calls for bigger and better packet health warnings.  See  Quit release 19/1/09

Teen girls who smoke are likely to be fatter as young adults

15/12/08:  Teenage girls who smoke are more likely to battle obesity as young adults, says this study from the University of Helsinki, Finland. The study of over 4000 twins published in the American Journal of Public Health shows smokers of more than ten cigarettes a day were more than twice as likely to become overweight, their young adult waist sizes an average 1.34 inches larger than nonsmokers' waists.   See  study abstract

Other studies on obesity
- Smoking linked with obesity in girls - and stunts boys - March 2008 study abstract 
- Smoking may cut muscle but add fat . See study abstract   
- Smoking in adolescence linked with later abdominal obesity - especially female. See  study abstract
- Children of mothers who smoked in pregnancy 40% more likely to be obese in adolescence. See  study 
- Current smokers have higher waist-hip ratios and bigger waists than ex-and-never-smokers. See study abstract    See also ASH media release 5/5/09 on similar earlier study
- Adolescents more likely to be obese if their mother smoked while pregnant.  See Australian study 2006 in  American Journal of Epidemiology
- Smoking inhibits fat burning, causes flabby midriff.   See  2005 study abstract 

Cancer and heart the top killer diseases, (no) thanks to tobacco 
9/12/08: Cancer is set to supplant heart disease as the disease causing most deaths worldwide in 2010, with both heavily influenced by smoking rates, according to a new report by the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer.  See Reuters report 9/12/08 

Smoking almost doubles women's depression
October 2008: Women who smoke almost double their risk of serious depression, says a study of over a thousand women by Melbourne University researchers published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.  See  study abstract 

Secondhand smoke raises child ear infection risk
19/5/08: An Australian report says ear infections could be cut by 16% in non-Aboriginal and 27% in Aboriginal children by removing secondhand smoke exposure. The report, by the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, is in the latest  Medical Journal of Australia.   See  Telethon Institute media release 19/5/08 

Smoking causes a third of gum disease
1/5/08: Smoking is responsible for about one-third of all moderate-to-serious cases of periodontitis (gum disease) in Australia, says a study by Adelaide University's Research Centre for Population Adult Health.   See  study abstract 

Tobacco damages genes

March/April 2008: Researchers at the US National Cancer Institute found 135 genes that affect lung activity are differently expressed as a result of smoking. These changes in gene expression can cause lung cancer.   See  The Cancer Council NSW newsletter, March/April 2008

Other studies on genetic harm:
- Smoking fathers can pass damaged genes to children.  See  2007 study   and earlier  Genomics report 12/05
- Women smoking while pregnant may cause permanent damage to foetal genes - increasing risk of cancer in later life.   See  2005 study  

Poor sleep linked to smoking       
5/2/08: Smokers have greater difficulty falling asleep, sleep more lightly and experience more sleep disturbances than non-smokers, say researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.  See  media report 5/2/08

"Smoker's acne face" a bad look
September '07: Study in British Journal of Dermatology identifies smoking-related acne and shows women aged 25-40 who smoke are four times more likely to have acne.  See  ASH media release 24/9/07    See  study and pic

Smoking may cause early menopause
7/7/07:  Women who smoke are more likely to start menopause before the age of 45 - putting them at higher risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. A new study from Norway published in BMC Public Health studied more than 2,000 women aged 59-60.  See  (provisional) study abstract  

Smoking a risk factor for Multiple Sclerosis
1/6/07: A review of six studies of the link between tobacco use and MS concludes that smoking increases the risk of the disease by 50%. The review was published in the journal Multiple Sclerosis.  See  study abstract in Multiple Sclerosis journal

Deaths fall but tobacco still Australia's no. 1 preventable health problem
25/5/07: Deaths from tobacco in Australia are falling, says this report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. But ASH says strong leadership is needed to ensure declines in smoking rates continue. See Burden of disease and injury Australia 2003, sec. 4      See  ASH media release 25/5/07

Smoking makes you weak-kneed
3/5/07: In a world first, Australian researchers have found a link between smoking and weak knees. Scientists at the Menzies Research Institute in Hobart found smokers had a greater risk of developing knee osteoarthritis.  See the full study from  Arthritis and Rheumatism, May 2007

Heavy smokers need to quit, not just cut down
28/11/06: Tobacco Control  has published a large longitudinal Norwegian study showing that heavy smokers who reduce their smoking do not reduce their mortality risk. See  the study

Pregnant women 'program' kids to smoke
28/11/06: Children whose mother smoked during pregnancy are almost three times more likely to take up the habit when they are teenagers, says an Australian study in Tobacco Control. The study tracked 3000 mothers and 4500 children over 20 years.    See  Melbourne Age report 28/11/06    See  full study 

Death rate cut by smoking decline, sustained progress "essential": cancer study

26/9/06: A study of US cancer deaths has found they would not have fallen since the 1990s without a decline in smoking. The study concludes that "sustained progress in tobacco control is essential if we are to continue to make progress against cancer."   See full  Tobacco Control paper  

Smokers have higher risk of HIV infection
21/9/06: Smoking may increase risk of infection with HIV. A research review in Sexually Transmitted Infections found five of six studies showed smokers were between 1.6 and 3.5 times more likely to have undergone HIV seroconversion. Authors say smoking may be an independent risk factor because of its impact on the immune system.  See  review abstract   

Babies may absorb smoke residue in the home
7/8/06: As any parent knows, crawling babies explore the world by touching - and tasting - anything they can get their wet little hands on. Including smoking residue.  See latest research in  USA Today 7/8/06 

Secondhand smoke may trigger diabetes
7/4/06: British Medical Journal  study suggests for the first time that secondhand smoke may trigger diabetes. The study also points to primary smoking increasing glucose intolerance, a precursor of type 2 diabetes.  See  SmokeFree Australia media release 7/4/06   See  BMJ abstract 

Mortality over the 20th century in Australia: trends & patterns in major causes 

5/4/06: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report analyses causes of death from 1907 to 2000; describes patterns and trends in mortality; highlights successes and areas of concern. See  report  and  media release

Smoking increases impotence risk by 40%
23/3/06: Men who smoke a pack a day are 40% more likely to experience erectile dysfunction than non-smokers, says a new study in Tobacco Control.   See  full study

Heavy smokers triple risk of middle-aged death 
21/3/06: Large study of over 50,000 Norwegians in Annals of Internal Medicine shows continued heavy smoking as against non-smoking increases death risk between ages 40-70 from 9% - 26% (men) and from 14% - 41% (women).    See  abstract 

Brain harm in alcoholics may be partly from tobacco
Oct 2005: Poorer mental function among alcoholics may be partly due to their smoking, says a new study in Drug and Alcohol Dependence.  See the abstract

Even moderate smoking trebles heart/cancer death risk
22/9/05: "Social smokers", take heed: even a 1-4 cigarette-a-day habit still trebles your risk of death from heart disease or cancer, says a large new study published in Tobacco Control. See National Heart Foundation media release 22/9/05     See the full study    

Smokers: do that and you'll go blind
Sept 2005: Smokers are 2-3 times more likely to go blind from Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) in later life, according to a review of studies published in Eye, the journal of the Royal College of Opthalmologists.   See review abstract 

Smoking really costs an arm and a leg
31/8/05: New report from ASH UK on incidence of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) - smokers have 10-16 times greater risk of developing this disease which can lead to amputation. See report pdf 

Study links passive smoke to diabetes, coronary artery disease 
11/8/05: ASH media release on study linking secondhand smoke exposure with adolescent development of a syndrome connected with Diabetes II and coronary artery disease. See also study abstract, Circulation

Smoking while pregnant linked to child hyperactivity and unruly behaviour 

2/8/05: Report in The Australian (2/8/05) 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 

Quit and save your teeth: smokers six times more likely to have gum disease
18/7/05: Abstract of new UK study in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology showing smokers who quit are much less likely to lose their teeth prematurely.

Smoking doubles eye disorder risk
April 2005: People who smoke double their risk of a degenerative eye disorder that is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly, says a new study in the British Journal of Opthalmology. See also Sept 2005 review, Eye journal:  abstract 

Smoking at 60 doubles death risk
24/4/05: New actuarial figures from the UK show smoking at age 60 doubles your death risk. New tables conservatively estimate the risk at different ages in this Times Online report.  

Smoking linked with MS progression 
March 2005: Abstract of study in Brain journal, showing smoking may contribute to the progression of Multiple Sclerosis. The Harvard School of Public Health researchers suggest that quitting could limit or delay central nervous system deterioration.

Vitamin E loss from smoking increases health risks 
Jan. 2005: New studies from Oregon State University in the US show Vitamin E disappears more quickly in smokers than in non-smokers. The findings may help explain how smoking causes cancer. 

Cognitive harm to kids from even low levels of passive smoking  (2005)

This US study of more than 4,000 children 6-16 yrs old has found a significant reduction of cognitive results even after “extremely low levels” of secondhand smoke exposure. And see previous studies on learning harm....

The Health Consequences of Smoking 2004
US Surgeon-General's latest report. Very comprehensive. Includes what the report means to you, flash animations, pdf and htm links.  Invaluable resource.  

Smoking parents give kids 9 times higher risk of meningococcal disease
Study from Queensland published August 2004. Increased risk was previously believed to be x4. The smoking-meningococcal link was something Philip Morris knew but kept kept under wraps.  See our earlier release 28/11/01, Smoking multiplies meningococcal risk  

"Lights" do not reduce lung cancer risk  
2004 study from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, published in British Medical Journal, samples almost a million people and finds "light"/ "low-tar" brand smokers fare no better than other smokers.  See also CNN report on the study.  ASH initiated a successful campaign to ban these terms in Australia

Chronic Diseases and Associated Risk Factors in Australia 2001  
Report from the AIHW on the role of tobacco in chronic diseases like asthma, COPD (emphysema), more. Includes death rates, prevalence figures, health costs.

Health effects of smoking
See brief summary (2007) from The Cancer Council NSW - and note that the evidence is growing all the time!  

ADDICTIVENESS   (including nicotine content)

Passive smoking in cars may be hooking children

July 2008: A survey of almost 1500 children aged 10-12 in Addictive Behaviors journal found secondhand smoke exposure in cars may be linked with nicotine dependence symptoms. The authors suggest that "If replicated, this finding provides support for interventions that promote non-smoking in motor vehicles."  See  study preview  

More than 100 additives hook or hide
31/7/07: More than 100 documented additives in cigarettes have the effect of increasing addictiveness or hiding health harm or smell, says a study in the American Journal of Public Health. The authors say their findings "provide a clear rationale for regulatory control of tobacco additives."  See  study abstract 

Youths can be hooked in two days
July '07: Study on youth dependence in Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine says some youths lose autonomy over tobacco within two days of first inhaling; dependence, withdrawal symptoms and failed attempts at cessation can precede daily smoking.   See  abstract and link to full study    Children can show dependence from first puff, says earlier study - see  ASH media release 4/9/06  including link to the full study  

Nicotine doses may have risen

31/8/06: ASH has called for full disclosure and greater regulatory control over tobacco products in Australia, in the wake of a US report suggesting average nicotine doses in cigarettes may have risen as much as 10% (and in some brands as much as 20%) over the past six years.   See  ASH media release 31/8/06     See the  Massachusetts report and factsheets  

SOCIAL/ECONOMIC IMPACTS  (including public opinion)

Health insurers invest in tobacco, then slug smokers
4/6/09: Research on investments by UK and North American-based health insurance companies shows they invest billions in tobacco companies - then slug smokers with higher premiums.  See letter in  New England Journal of Medicine 4/6/09 

Tobacco control measures are egalitarian
11/3/09: Raising cigarette prices by taxation and adopting clean indoor air laws benefit low-income and disadvantaged groups in US society as much as other social groupings, says a new study in Social Science and Medicine  journal.  See  the study

How to burn up $300,000
9/5/08: Cigarettes cost the average Australian smoker $300,000 during their (seriously shortened) lifetime, says new statistical analysis. The estimate - and some other startling figures - are in a letter from South Australian infectious diseases physician Dr Ross Philpot to the Medical Journal of Australia.    See  the letter

Smoking rates fall again, and public wants more
28/4/08: The 2007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey shows very strong and growing public support for anti-tobacco measures.  See the first report (pdf)

Tobacco's $31b drain on Australian economy
9/4/08: Tobacco is responsible for more than $31b a year in costs to the Australian community, says a new report from the National Drug Strategy. NDS Monograph 64,  summary and full report     Tobacco is responsible each year  for:

• Around 15,000 deaths, including 36 aged under 15.

• 56% of total drug abuse costs - more than alcohol and all other drugs combined.  

• Over $15b in workplace costs - double alcohol plus all other drugs combined.

• Over $12b in crime costs - more than alcohol or any other drug.

• Over 750,000 hospital bed days - around 8% of them by children under 15.

• Over $600m hospital costs.

Strong public support for government action against tobacco
16/10/07: A new AMA/ACOSH survey has showed very strong support for government spending on Quit campaigns, full disclosure of ingredients, mandatory anti-smoking ads in cinemas and an end to tobacco political donations.  See  AMA/ACOSH media release 16/10/07 

Health costs would plummet from modest smoking rate reduction (2005) 
2005 study in the Medical Journal of Australia showing over 3000 heart attack and over 1000 stroke hospitalisations could be avoided and more than $60m in health care costs saved in the short-term, if smoking rates fell by 1% each year for the next five years.

Smoking is NOT sexy (2005)
Another tobacco PR myth exposed - by this March 2005 survey from Glaxo Smith Kline. 

Reduced smoking in NSW would help poorest most
June 2004 macroeconomic study by Junor et al, commissioned by Cancer Council NSW, kiboshes theory that tobacco control penalises the poor.

SMOKING AND QUIT RATES   
(prevalence, including children; impacts on prevalence & quitting) 

See also below under TOBACCO PROMOTION for studies on the impact of this on smoking behaviour

Switching may undermine quitting
11/09: Switching to "lighter" / "lower tar" brands may reduce the likelihood of quitting by almost 50%, says a study published in Tobacco Control.  See  full study pdf

Women twice as likely to smoke if Lesbian or bisexual
2/9/09: Lesbian and bisexual women are almost twice as likely to be smokers than women generally, a Western Australia study has found. The study of more than 900 women in BMC Public Health warned that mainstream health messages may not be reaching this group effectively and that new strategies may be needed.   See  full study

Three-quarters of smokers would quit if price raised 50%
15/4/09: 74% of smokers say they would quit if cigarette prices increased by 50% according to a Quit / Heart Foundation / Cancer Council study. The organisations, along with ASH, have called for immediate tobacco tax rises.   See  media release 15/4/09     US adopts largest-ever federal increase in tobacco tax: see  USA Today report 31/3/09   What Australian government should do: see Realistic funding

Watching smoky movies can double teen uptake
30/3/09: Exposure to high levels of smoking scenes in movies can double smoking uptake between early teens and young adulthood, says a US study in Pediatrics journal. The authors tracked 1,790 non-smoking children aged 10-14 from 1999 and found that by 2006-7 those exposed to most film smoking were twice as likely to regular smokers.  See  study 

Packet warnings boost quit attempts
10/2/09: Noticing and reacting to health warnings on cigarette packets has a significant impact on quit attempts, says a four-country study from the Cancer Council Victoria in Addiction journal. The study was based on almost 4,000 ex-smoker responses from Australia, UK, US and Canada.  See  study abstract 

2004 National Drug Strategy Household Survey
Latest figures on smoking rates in Australia shows a fall to 19% Australians smoking at least weekly.  For comment, see ASH media release 7/4/05

Smoking Behaviours of Australian Secondary Students in 2002
Latest survey by National Tobacco Strategy (published November 2004) shows there are still more than 200,000 school students smoking weekly - and almost a quarter are getting it from retail. See also ASH media release 24/11/04

The Health Behaviour of Secondary Students NSW 1998-2002
Survey by NSW Health and The Cancer Council NSW (published November 2004), showing schoolie smoking is generally falling - but girls 12-15 are smoking more - and disturbing numbers are getting it from retailers with no check on their age.  See also ASH media release 2/11/04

TOBACCO PROMOTION

Exposure to shop display increases youth smoking  
9/10/09: A study in Tobacco Control  shows greater exposure to tobacco displays at point of sale is linked with increased 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. Its authors recommend that "point of sale displays should be included as a part of a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship."   doi:10.1136/tc.2008.027482  Tob. Control 2009;18;268-274  See  full study pdf

Next steps in regulating tobacco retail: review
22/9/09: Tobacco retailing remains largely unregulated, and the FCTC treaty only addresses limited aspects. This contrasts strongly with pharmaceuticals and other strongly restricted goods and services. This international review looks at the reasons and proposes new debate on retail regulation including number and location of retail outlets; price controls and purchase caps; and making tobacco retail licenses heavily restricted and tradeable. See 
abstract  or full text available by emailing  sc@med.usyd.edu.au 

Pack colours and design mislead smokers
5/8/09: The colour of cigarette packs can mislead smokers into thinking that certain brands are less harmful, says a new study. Since bans on descriptors such as "light" and "mild", cigarette companies are using colours and other design features more with misleading impacts.   See full study pdf in  Journal of Public Health      See  Sydney Morning Herald report 5/8/09

Retailer arguments defending tobacco displays slammed by report
2/7/08: A study and research review in the NZ Medical Journal  has blasted retailer arguments against an out-of-sight policy as “contradictory, flawed and unsupported by evidence.”  The same arguments are being put to Australian governments by tobacco dealers.  See  ASH media release 2/7/08     See  NZMJ study abstract  

Tobacco retail activity affects nearby school smoking rates
July '07: Canadian study finds link between retail tobacco activity - displays, lower prices - and the smoking rates in nearby schools. See the  study

Retail tobacco displays undermine quit attempts
Feb. 2008: Retail display of tobacco contributes to "impulse buying" and undermines attempts to quit smoking, says an Australian study in Addiction journal.  More than 30% of quitters get an impulse to buy from seeing retail displays; and more than 30% of smokers think removal of these displays would help them quit.  See  study abstract

Tobacco shop displays predispose children to smoke
6/6/06: Study from The Cancer Council Victoria shows how removing tobacco products from view would help reduce encouragement of kids to smoke.  See ASH media release 2/6/06 with link to study

RESEARCH RESOURCES    (most recent at top)

Tobacco in Australia: Facts and Issues  
December 2008: Revised 3rd edition of  this complete online encyclopaedia of everything you ever wanted to know about tobacco and smoking in Australia. Fully referenced, compiled by the Cancer Council Victoria. 

National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) 2007 
2008: From Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), the 2007 NDSHS conducted July-November 2007 included over 23,000 Australians aged 12 and older. The State and Territory supplement contains 13 tables listing state by state results on tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug use, and community attitudes to legislative measures. A comprehensive analysis of results from the survey will follow later in the year.

Global Tobacco Research Network (GTRN)
April 2005: Network specifically created to help international community of tobacco control researchers. Includes in-depth and searchable researcher profiles, clearinghouse of training and funding opportunities, international tobacco control literature database, links to tobacco control data sources, technical resources and interactive tools. 

Tobacco control in Europe
Comprehensive overview of tobacco control in the EU 25 plus Norway, Iceland and Switzerland. Health effects, economic burden,  history of EU action, interventions,  evidence, product regulation, tobacco industry strategies, recommendations for future EU and national action, overview of national legislation. Full report in English, executive summary in all 20 EU languages. You can also download proposed graphic warnings here. 

National Cancer Prevention Policy 2004-06 
From the Cancer Council Australia. Gives a high priority to tobacco control.

Women, Tobacco and Cancer: An Agenda for the 21st Century
July 2004 report for the National Cancer Institute. In pdf.

The World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: Implications for Global Epidemics of Food-related Deaths and Disease     
Jan 2004 paper in Journal of Public Health Policy (vol. 24 (3/4) reviewing major elements of the FCTC and considering how they can be applied to diet and nutrition issues.

Indigenous Australians and Tobacco: a literature review  
Comprehensive 2001 report including history, prevalence, attitudes, health effects, programs and interventions. Find under Publications - Research Reports.

Aboriginal Smoking Report  
Tobacco: Time for Action, 2002.

Australian National Quit Campaign Evaluation:
Report 1 and Report 2

Commonwealth Health Departments' Policy on Tobacco
Smoking and tobacco related disease in NSW - an agenda for control, 1999
A review by the Cancer Council NSW of the evidence and the reasons why a greater commitment is needed to reduce smoking rates.

What smokers think about quitting: Finding the strength to kill your best friend (2001)

Page last updated 18/11/09