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“
A
new media campaign on smokers’ high risk of strokes is a timely
reminder that smoking doesn’t just kill – it shatters the lives of
younger middle-aged people and their young families, says Action on
Smoking and Health (ASH) Australia. Smokers face double the risk of strokes,
confirms “The Voice Within” campaign launched today (May 20) by
NSW Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer) Verity Firth. Strokes
can leave victims, many in younger middle-age and with young families,
severely disabled and unable to communicate. Says
Anne Jones, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health: “This
campaign is one of the hard-hitting messages brought to the public via
the Cancer Institute NSW. These campaigns are yielding results in
terms of increased quit calls and public awareness. “If
we’re to keep smoking rates falling – and evidence shows they
could be made to fall much more steeply – then it’s important now
to keep up the momentum by sustained public awareness campaigns as
part of a comprehensive strategy. “Every
dollars spent on smoking prevention saves our economy at least two
dollars in health and other costs. “As
the Minister says, there is no room for complacency – with tobacco
still far and away our number one preventable cause of death and
disease, piling up more than 6,500 deaths and 55,000 hospital visits
each year in NSW alone. “As
this campaign shows, this isn’t just a problem for long-term smokers
but for some as young as their thirties.
Many don’t realise their smoking can cause years of
disability before an early death.” Smokers needing help and advice should call the Quit Line on 13QUIT.
Comment: Anne Jones, CEO, ASH Australia m. 0417-227-879 Media
info: Stafford
Sanders, ASH Australia
ph. (02) 9334-1823; m.
0412-070-194
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Page last updated 21/5/07 |
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