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“
Deaths
from tobacco in Australia are declining – but strong leadership is
needed to ensure declines in smoking rates continue with extra support
for smokers in high risk groups, warns Action on Smoking and Health
(ASH) Australia. New
figures released today (May 25) by the Australian Institute of Health
and Welfare* estimate that deaths caused by smoking have declined from
19,000 to just under 16,000 a year – but tobacco is still the
single, largest preventable cause of death, disease and disability. “The
overall decline is good news, but smoking rates are still increasing
or stagnating in several high risk groups - including Indigenous
people, pregnant women and those with mental illness”, says ASH
Chief Executive Anne Jones. “We
should not lose sight of the fact that tobacco is killing many more
Australians than the combined total of all other leading causes -
including illicit drugs, alcohol, car accidents, breast cancer and
homicide. “Smoking
death rates don’t fall by themselves – and they can stall or
increase unless a well-funded comprehensive strategy is maintained for
all smokers. “The
latest federal budget included much needed new money for chronic
diseases – of which smoking is a major risk factor. But there were
no new tobacco control initiatives, despite evidence that every dollar
spent yields a two dollar return on the investment. “Although
good progress has been made, Australia is spending less per capita on
tobacco control than comparable countries including NZ, Canada, the UK
and Ireland. “Not
all Australian governments have well funded, comprehensive strategies
in place to keep driving down smoking rates”. ASH is
calling on political leaders to review the current funding commitment
of less than $9m a year, due to run out in 2008 - following this
report’s confirmation that 32% of all disease is preventable, with
tobacco contributing
the greatest burden (7.8%). *
AIHW media release at
www.aihw.gov.au/mediacentre/2007/mr20070525.cfm
See AIHW report, section 4 at www.aihw.gov.au/publications/hwe/bodaiia03/bodaiia03-c05.pdf 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 25/5/07 |
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