Launch of 1997 Quit (smoking) campaign

June 12, 1997

More than 1,400 Western Australians die annually from smoking and previous research shows 82 per cent of the State's 320,000 smokers want to quit, Health Minister Kevin Prince said today.

He said it was hoped that as a result of a ground-breaking national anti-smoking campaign launched today at least half of WA's smokers would attempt to quit or cut down on the amount they smoked.

The hard-hitting 1997 Quit Campaign targets 18 to 40-year-old smokers and drives home the message that 'every cigarette does you damage'.

"The latest international medical research confirms that every cigarette a person smokes damages their lungs and arteries," Mr Prince said.

"About half of all smokers will die early because they smoked and of those, half will die by middle age.

"Of the 19,000 deaths across Australia each year due to smoking, 1400 have resulted in WA.

"It is hoped that as a result of this year's Quit Campaign, half the smoking population in this State will attempt to quit or cut down on the amount that they smoke."

Mr Prince said national health surveys conducted in 1997, 1989-90 and 1995 showed WA had shaken its tag of being the State with the worst prevalence of smoking among adults 20 years ago.

"We have cut the level of smoking among the adult population from 38.7 per cent to 24.4 per cent, which is the lowest prevalence of smoking," he said.

Mr Prince said the national Quit Campaign, which would begin with television commercials from tonight, was a collaborative effort between the Commonwealth and States.

"This is the first time in the history of Australian tobacco control efforts that all State and Territory Governments have worked together on a campaign designed to encourage smokers to quit," he said.

The campaign will include:

·      a new national Quit booklet;

·      the distribution of information through GPs, hospitals, community and school nurses and pharmacists;

·      special support to long-time smokers; and -

·      culturally appropriate information designed to assist Aboriginal people to quit.

The Quit Line (131 848) and the Alcohol and Drug Information Service counselling line will be open to smokers requiring further assistance with quitting.

Media contact: Kirsten Stoney 9221 1377/041904 2490