New graphic health warnings on cigarettes, hard-hitting campaigns and an increase in smokefree areas have had a remarkable effect on Australian smokers with calls to the Quitline doubling in 2006.
National data from the Quitline shows that calls to the service skyrocketed in 2006, with 165 140 Australians seeking advice on the best way to quit and go smokefree.
This was a jump of over 100 per cent on the number of calls in 2005, when just over 80 000 people called the Quitline.
A spokesperson from Quit said the tremendous surge in quit attempts, using the Quitline service, could be attributed to a number of factors.
"The last year has seen very significant progress in the tobacco control arena, backed up with graphic campaigns spelling out the health consequences of smoking."
"The combination of the introduction of new graphic warnings on cigarette packaging from March, the implementation of various state-based tobacco reforms and these uncompromising quit campaigns is clearly having a dramatic impact on Australian smokers."
Quit said continued commitment to tobacco control in Australia could result in huge numbers of smokers kicking the habit in the years ahead.
"Australia has one of the lowest smoking rates in the industrialised world but we must be wary of being complacent, as the battle against this enormous public health problem is far from won."
"Smoking continues to claim the lives of 19 000 Australians every year, so looking for new ways to reduce that devastating toll on the community and restrict the ability of the tobacco industry to market its deadly product continues to be a public health priority."
ends
Edwina Vellar,
Media Manager
ph: (03) 9635 5400
mob: 0417 303 811
email: Edwina.Vellar@cancervic.org.au