ASH Australia media release                                       July 6, 2007

Indigenous tobacco strategy an urgent priority

Latest report shows smoking rates still twice general community

(JOINT RELEASE BY ASH AUSTRALIA AND HEART FOUNDATION)

Health groups have called for implementation of a comprehensive tobacco control strategy with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, following the release of figures showing indigenous smoking rates remain double those of the general community.

Among the findings of the 2004-05 report, released today (July 5) by the Australian Bureau of Statistics*, are:

·         Half the adult indigenous population were current daily smokers – more than twice the rate for the general community;

·         The rate for indigenous women was two and a half times that for non-indigenous women;

·         Indigenous smoking rates were even higher in younger age groups, reaching 57% for men aged 35-44 and 54% for women aged 25-44;

·         Unlike the general community, there had been no significant fall in smoking rates among ATSI people;

·         Indigenous smoking was linked with higher rates of self-reported disability or long-term health problems, poor health, psychological distress and illicit substance use;  and

·         Two-thirds of ATSI children aged 0-14 years lived in households with at least one regular smoker.

Said Maurice Swanson, national tobacco spokesperson for the Heart Foundation:  “These figures paint an alarming picture of the tobacco epidemic in indigenous communities and its connection with other health and social problems.”

Said Anne Jones, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health: “We urge all governments and political parties to commit themselves to implementing a comprehensive tobacco control strategy with and for Indigenous communities as a matter of urgency.”

* Tobacco Smoking – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: A snapshot, 2004-05
at  www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/mf/4722.0.55.004?OpenDocument

Page last updated 6/7/07