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       
- ADDICTIVENESS (including nicotine content)              
- SOCIAL/ECONOMIC IMPACTS (including public opinion) 
- SMOKING AND QUIT RATES  
- TOBACCO PROMOTION 
- RESEARCH RESOURCES (other)           

For latest SECONDHAND SMOKE (passive smoking) research: 
see Smokefree Australia health research 

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

STOP PRESS:

Exposure to secondhand smoke increases TB risk
10/2/10: Exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of tuberculosis (TB) in older women by 50%, says a study from Hong Kong of women aged 65-74.  See  Reuters report   Australia's incidence of TB is only about 700 cases a year but strongly related to disadvantage - the indigenous rate around 8 times higher than the non-indigenous prevalence.  See  Australian Health Dept background on TB  

HEALTH IMPACTS     (including death/disease rates)

CANCERS

A cancerous genetic mutation in every pack
2009: DNA research in Nature says 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

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

Earlier studies on tobacco and breast cancer: 

- 2009: Smoking may make a second breast cancer more likely, says a study published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. See abstract

- 2009 study in Breast  journal of more than 8,000 women patients over ten years at a US clinic found those with a smoking history 25% more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer. See  study abstract   
- 2008 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 Uni meta-analysis in International Journal of Epidemiology says earlier findings may have been distorted by self-reporting biases.  See  study abstract     
- 2005: 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  study   

Heavy smoking linked with prostate cancer
2009:  Heavier smoking increases risk of prostate cancer - and the likelihood of dying from it, says meta-analysis of 24 studies in the American Journal of Public Health. See  study abstract

Smoking raises women's risk of colorectal cancer by 20%
2009: Women who had ever smoked have a 20% higher risk of colorectal cancer than never-smokers, says Cancer Causes Control  study of  over 68,000 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
2009 study in BMC Cancer  confirms smoking link with most male deaths from all (not just lung) cancer. The survey of 25 years of male cancer deaths in Massachusetts found over 70% linked to smoking.  See  study

Women's pancreatic cancer risk doubled by smoking
2008 study in in the International Journal of Cancer  of more than a million middle-aged women shows smoking more than doubles the risk of pancreatic 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

2008: While most people know smoking can cause lung cancer, a study in the Journal of Urology shows only a third of adults know it's linked with bladder cancer - even among people who have the disease.  See  Reuters Health report 30/7/08 

Smoking linked to female genital cancers

2008: Tobacco has been confirmed as a risk factor for invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva and vagina, by a 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 
2006: Cigarette smoking significantly raises the likelihood of cervical cancer connected with human papillomavirus (HPV-16), says 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
2006 study in American Journal of Epidemiology of smoking fathers shows children's risk of leukaemia rises with parents' secondhand smoke. See  study

Smoking parents expose children to cancer-causing chemicals
2006: New parents who smoke put their infants in danger from cancerous chemicals, says study in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. See  HealthDay News report 12/5/06   See  media report and study

Smoking linked to prostate cancer progression 
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
2005: Smokers can be up to four times more likely to get oral cancer - but more than 95% are not aware of the link, says Cancer Council Victoria study.  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
2009:  Not just older people's arteries can be clogged by secondhand smoke exposure, suggests study in European Heart Journal - children can suffer this at an early age. See  Protecting Children from Tobacco media release 24/7/09  with link to study abstract

"Tremendous" impact of smoking on heart, vascular and other deaths
2009: Smoking is "strongly" related to cardiovascular and other causes of death, says a 30-year study of 54,000 men and women presented at a preventive health conference.   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
2008: An autopsy in Italy has linked secondhand smoke with the sudden death of a boy aged 13 while playing soccer. The report in the American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology calls for cardiovascular examinations of young athletes to consider smoke exposure.  See  study abstract

Young women who smoke double stroke risk
2008: Younger women who smoke more than double risk of stroke compared to nonsmokers, with heaviest smokers at nine times the risk, says a study in Stroke.  See   Reuters news report 14/8/08 

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 this study from Finland.  See the  study

Smoking is a heartbreaker - even for the young at heart   
2007: Smoking causes significant harm to young adult hearts, says a study in Chest. Regular smoking harms the heart's ability to relax between beats, reducing pumping capacity.   See  ASH/National Heart Foundation media release 17/4/07      See  study abstract

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

RESPIRATORY

Exposure to secondhand smoke increases TB risk
10/2/10: Exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of tuberculosis (TB) in older women by 50%, says a study from Hong Kong of women aged 65-74.  See  Reuters report   Australia's incidence of TB is only about 700 cases a year but strongly related to disadvantage - the indigenous rate around 8 times higher than the non-indigenous prevalence.  See  Australian Health Dept background on TB

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 may also be worsened.  See  study abstract

Tobacco impact on asthma still widespread: review

2009: More action needed to reduce impact of active and passive smoking on asthma, says research review in Asthma. Many pregnant women smoke; children's passive exposure continues; legislative and healthcare interventions are needed.  See  study abstract

Preschoolers with passive-smoking mums have worse asthma symptoms
2009: Secondhand smoke exposure of women in the third trimester of pregnancy is linked with asthma and allergy-related symptoms in their small children, says study in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. The authors recommend "Public health policies should... reinforce elimination of [secondhand smoke] exposure of pregnant women."   See study abstract

Women continue to suffer from smoking diseases
2007: Deaths and hospitalisation from asthma and COPD have fallen for men, but not women, says Australian study in Medical Journal of Australia. Authors say more anti-smoking campaigns on respiratory harm should be directed at women. See  MJA media release 16/4/07

Asthma study backs smokefree cars campaign
2007 Medical Journal of Australia study shows teenage risk of asthma doubled by exposure to secondhand smoke in cars - supporting 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
2006: At least one in four "hardened" smokers will develop Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), says study in Thorax. Persistent smokers are six times more likely to get the incurable condition.  See  newkerala.com report 17/10/06      See the  study

Older women smokers at higher risk of emphysema
2006: 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)

Independent studies show tobacco increases Alzheimer's risk by over 70%
2/2/10: A review of studies on smoking's impact on Alzheimer's Disease shows a sharp disparity between studies affiliated with the tobacco industry and those independent of its influence. The independent studies show smoking increases risk of AD by more than 70% - while the tobacco-funded studies suggest an average decrease of 14%. A review of evidence published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease says tobacco funding has "skewed" findings for over 20 years.  See  study abstract  - spool down to pp. 465-480     See Science Daily report 2/2/10

Maternal secondhand exposure causes low birthweight and abnormalities
20/1/10:  A major international review of studies on impact of passive smoking on pregnancy confirms it causes lower birthweight and increased birth abnormalities. The review of 76 articles, involving 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 harms semen quality
Jan. 2010: Smoking harms semen quality, says a study of smoking and non-smoking males published in the Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology. The study of both smoking and alcohol impact, concludes:  Smoke-induced toxins primarily hamper sperm motility and seminal fluid quality. Progressive deterioration in semen quality is related to increasing quantity of alcohol intake and cigarettes smoked.   See  abstract and link to full study

Smoking while pregnant almost triples risk of low birthweight
2009: 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. Study based on 1400 mother-baby pairs in the European Journal of Pediatrics. See  study abstract  

Smoking is a pain in the lower back
2009: Daily smokers increase risk of chronic lower back pain by almost 50%, says a large study in Clinical and Investigative Medicine - and 20somethings almost double the risk. Back pain, experienced by most people, is linked with est. 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

2009: Women who smoke when pregnant increase by 20% their babies' risk of developing psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions, says study of 6000 12-year-olds in British Journal of Psychiatry. See  full study   

Smokers' tongues fail taste test
2009: Cigarettes deaden the ability to taste. Smokers have fewer and flatter taste buds, says the study in BMC Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders.  See  the study

Call for smoking details on Australian death certificates
2009: Australian experts want details of smoking status noted on death certificates as they are elsewhere. The data, argues a paper in the Medical Journal of Australia, would allow more accurate monitoring of tobacco health impacts.  See  the paper 

Smoking is a big headache
2009: 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

2009: 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
2009: Smokers' muscles tire faster than those of non-smokers - no matter how much they smoke or for how long, says a Netherlands study.  See  Science Daily report 15/6/09 

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 makes babies' brains 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

2009: Exposure to secondhand smoke may increase the risk of dementia and other cognitive impairment, says British Medical Journal  study of more than 5000 non-smokers over 50.  See  study abstract     Smoking link to dementia:  previous 2007 study reported  here and  here 

Smokers still in the dark - better warnings needed
2009: 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

2008:  Teenage girls who smoke are more likely to battle obesity as young adults, says a study of over 4000 twins in American Journal of Public Health. Smokers of over ten sticks a day are more than twice as likely to become overweight - by average 1.34 inches over nonsmokers.   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 
2008: Cancer is set to supplant heart disease as the disease causing most deaths worldwide, with both heavily influenced by smoking rates, says 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
2008: Women who smoke almost double their risk of serious depression, says Melbourne Uni study of 1000+ women in the British Journal of Psychiatry.  See  study abstract

Secondhand smoke raises child ear infection risk
2008: Australian Telethon Institute report in the Medical Journal of Australia  says ear infections could be cut by 16% in non-Aboriginal and 27% in Aboriginal children by removing secondhand smoke exposure.  See  Telethon Institute media release 19/5/08 

Smoking causes a third of gum disease
2008: Smoking is responsible for a third of all moderate-serious cases of periodontitis (gum disease) in Australia, says Adelaide Uni study.   See  study abstract 

Tobacco damages genes

2008: US National Cancer Institute study finds 135 genes affecting lung activity are changed by smoking in ways that 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       
2008: Smokers have more difficulty falling asleep, sleep more lightly and more disturbed than non-smokers, says Johns Hopkins University study.  See  media report 5/2/08

"Smoker's acne face" a bad look
2007: 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
2007:  Women who smoke are more likely to start menopause before the age of 45 - putting them at higher risk of heart disease and osteoporosis, says BMC Public Health  study.  See  abstract  

Smoking a risk factor for Multiple Sclerosis
2007: 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
2007: Deaths from tobacco in Australia are falling, says Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report. But ASH says strong leadership needed to ensure this continues. See Burden of disease and injury Australia 2003, sec. 4      See  ASH media release 25/5/07

Smoking makes you weak-kneed
2007: Australian researchers have found a link between smoking and weak knees. Menzies Research Institute study shows smokers increase risk of knee osteoarthritis.  Full study from  Arthritis and Rheumatism, May 2007

Heavy smokers need to quit, not just cut down
2006: 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
2006: Children whose mother smoked during pregnancy are almost three times more likely to take it up when they're teenagers, says 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

2006: Study of US cancer deaths finds they would not have fallen since the 1990s without a decline in smoking. The study says "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
2006: Smoking may increase risk HIV infection by up to 3.5 times, says research review in Sexually Transmitted Infections. 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
2006: Crawling babies explore the world by touching - and tasting - anything they can get their wet little hands on. Including smoking residue.  Latest research in  USA Today 7/8/06 

Secondhand smoke may trigger diabetes
2006: British Medical Journal  study suggests secondhand smoke may trigger diabetes. The study also points to 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 

2006: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report analyses causes of death from 1907 to 2000; patterns and trends in mortality; successes and areas of concern. See  report  and  media release

Smoking increases impotence risk by 40%
2006: 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 
2006: Large study (50,000+) in Annals of Internal Medicine shows continued heavy smoking vs non-smoking increases death risk from age 40-70 by up to 26% (men) and up to 41% (women).    See  abstract 

Brain harm in alcoholics may be partly from tobacco
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
2005: "Social smokers", take heed: even a 1-4 cigarette-a-day habit still trebles your risk of death from heart disease or cancer, says large study in Tobacco Control. See National Heart Foundation media release 22/9/05     See the full study    

Smokers: do that and you'll go blind
2005: Smokers are 2-3 times more likely to go blind from Age-related Macular Degeneration in later life, finds research review in Royal College of Opthalmologists journal.   See review abstract 

Smoking really costs an arm and a leg
2005: Report from ASH UK on incidence of Peripheral Artery Disease. Smokers have 10-16 times greater risk of developing this - and it can lead to amputation. See report pdf 

Study links passive smoke to diabetes, coronary artery disease 
2005: ASH media release on study linking secondhand smoke exposure with adolescent development of syndrome connected with Diabetes II and coronary artery disease. See also study abstract, Circulation

Smoking while pregnant linked to child hyperactivity and unruly behaviour 

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

Smoking at 60 doubles death risk
2005: 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 
2005: Study in Brain shows smoking may contribute to progression of Multiple Sclerosis. Harvard researchers say quitting could limit or delay central nervous system deterioration.

Vitamin E loss from smoking increases health risks 
2005: Studies from Oregon State University, US show Vitamin E disappears more quickly in smokers than in non-smokers. This may help explain how smoking causes cancer. 

Cognitive harm to kids from even low levels of passive smoking 

2005 US study of more than 4,000 children 6-16 yrs old finds significant reduction of cognitive results even after “extremely low levels” of secondhand smoke exposure. Confirms previous studies on learning harm.

The Health Consequences of Smoking
US Surgeon-General's report. Very comprehensive.  

Smoking parents give kids 9 times higher risk of meningococcal disease
2004 study from Queensland. The smoking-meningococcal link was something Philip Morris knew but kept kept under wraps.  See ASH release 2001, Smoking multiplies meningococcal risk  

"Lights" do not reduce lung cancer risk  
2004 study from Massachusetts Institute of Technology 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   ASH Australia started the successful campaign to ban these terms here

ADDICTIVENESS   (including nicotine content)

Passive smoking in cars may be hooking children

2008: Survey of almost 1500 children aged 10-12 in Addictive Behaviors finds smoke exposure in cars may be linked with nicotine dependence; and "If replicated, this... provides support for interventions that promote non-smoking in motor vehicles."  See  study preview  

More than 100 additives hook or hide
2007: Over 100 documented additives are in cigarettes to boost addictiveness or hide health harm or bad smell, says study in American Journal of Public Health. Authors argue for "regulatory control of tobacco additives."  See  study abstract 

Youths can be hooked in two days
2007: Study 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 - earlier study in  ASH media release 4/9/06 

Nicotine doses may have risen

2006: ASH seeks full disclosure and greater regulatory control over tobacco products in Australia, after US report suggests nicotine in cigarettes may have risen 10- 20% over 6 years.   See  ASH media release 31/8/06     See the  Massachusetts report and factsheets  

SOCIAL/ECONOMIC IMPACTS  (including public opinion)

Watching smoking in movies can treble teen smoking uptake
2009: Teens most exposed to film smoking are three times more likely to try smoking or become smokers, says study in Current Directions in Psychological Science. Authors suggest "eliminating smoking in movies may prevent a substantial number of adolescents from smoking."  See  abstract

Health insurers invest in tobacco, then slug smokers
2009: Research on investments by UK and North American-based health insurance companies shows they invest billions in tobacco - then slug smokers with higher premiums.  See letter in  New England Journal of Medicine 4/6/09 

Tobacco control measures are egalitarian
2009: Raising cigarette prices by taxation and adopting clean indoor air laws benefit disadvantaged groups in US society as much as advantaged, says study in Social Science and Medicine. See  the study

How to burn up $300,000
2008: Cigarettes cost each Australian smoker $300,000 during a shortened life. Startling figures in letter from South Australian infectious diseases physician to Medical Journal of Australia.    See  the letter

Smoking rates fall again, and public wants more
2008: National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2007 shows very strong and growing public support for anti-tobacco measures.  See the first report (pdf)

Tobacco's $31b drain on Australian economy
2008: Tobacco is costs the Australian community over $31b a year, says National Drug Strategy report. NDS Monograph 64,  summary, full report    Tobacco each year causes around 15,000 deaths, including 36 aged under 15; most drug abuse costs, more than all other drugs (including alcohol) combined; over $15b in workplace costs, double all other drugs combined; over $12b in crime costs, more than alcohol or any other drug; over 750,000 hospital bed days, 8% of them children under 15; over $600m hospital costs.

Strong public support for government action against tobacco
2007: AMA/ACOSH survey shows 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 Medical Journal of Australia study shows over 3000 heart attack and over 1000 stroke hospitalisations could be avoided and more than $60m in health care costs saved short-term, if smoking rates fell by 1% each year for the next five years.

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

Reduced smoking in NSW would help poorest most
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
2009: Switching to "lighter" / "lower tar" brands may reduce likelihood of quitting by almost 50%, says study in Tobacco Control.  See  full study pdf

Women twice as likely to smoke if Lesbian or bisexual
2009: Lesbian and bisexual women are almost twice as likely to be smokers than women generally, says WA study of more than 900 women in BMC Public Health. Health messages may not be reaching this group effectively - new strategies may be needed.   See  full study

Three-quarters of smokers would quit if price raised 50%
2009: 74% of smokers say they would quit if cigarette prices increased by 50% according to Quit / Heart Foundation / Cancer Council study. Along with ASH, they call 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
2009: Exposure to smoking scenes in movies can double smoking uptake between early teens and young adulthood, says US study of 1,790 children in Pediatrics. See  study 

Packet warnings boost quit attempts
2009: Noticing and reacting to health warnings on cigarette packets has significant impact on quit attempts, says four-country study from Cancer Council Victoria in Addiction. See  study abstract 

TOBACCO PROMOTION

Exposure to shop display increases youth smoking  
2009: NZ study of 28,000 students in Tobacco Control  shows more exposure of 14-15-year-olds to tobacco displays at point of sale is linked with more smoking. Shop displays exposure " strongly associated" with starting and continuing smoking. Authors suggest "point of sale displays should be included as a part of a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship."   See  full study pdf

Next steps in regulating tobacco retail: review
2009: Tobacco retailing remains largely unregulated, FCTC treaty only addressing limited aspects. This contrasts with pharmaceuticals and other goods. International review proposes new debate on retail outlets; price controls, purchase caps, licences and more. See  abstract  or full text available by emailing  sc@med.usyd.edu.au 

Pack colours and design mislead smokers
2009: Study says colours of cigarette packs can mislead smokers into seeing certain brands as less harmful. Since bans on descriptors such as "light" and "mild", cigarette companies are turning to other misleading tactics.  Full study pdf in  Journal of Public Health      See  Sydney Morning Herald report 5/8/09

Retailer arguments defending tobacco displays slammed by report
2008: Study/review in NZ Medical Journal  blasts retailer arguments against out-of-sight policy as “contradictory, flawed, unsupported by evidence.”  Same arguments are being put to Australian and other governments.  See  ASH media release 2/7/08     See  NZMJ study abstract  

Tobacco retail activity affects nearby school smoking rates
2007: 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
2008: Retail display contributes to "impulse buying" and undermines attempts to quit, says Australian study in Addiction. See  study abstract

Tobacco shop displays predispose children to smoke
2006: Cancer Council Victoria study shows 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  
2008: Revised 3rd edition of  this complete online encyclopaedia of 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. Included over 23,000 Australians aged 12 and older. State and Territory supplement has 13 tables listing state results on tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug use, and community attitudes to legislative measures.

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

Page last updated 5/3/10