Tobacco Control and SmokingQuit Smoking
It can be difficult but keep tryingIt can be difficult to quit smoking because the nicotine in cigarettes is highly addictive. In fact, cigarettes can be more addictive than cocaine, alcohol and marijuana.
The average smoker may make several quit attempts before quitting successfully long-term – so it is important to keep trying.
Tobacco use surveysRecent surveys have shown that New Zealand smokers – including those in groups with high smoking rates – want to quit and try to quit. Young smokers wish they had never started, and they too actively try to quit.
The New Zealand Tobacco Use Survey 2006 found that 45 percent of smokers had quit for at least a week in the previous year – so over 300,000 smokers made at least one quit attempt in the previous year and most did so without support.
Initiatives funded by the Ministry of HealthThe Ministry of Health funds a range of initiatives and smoking cessation programmes to help further reduce smoking prevalence in New Zealand.
The Quit Cards, or subsidised nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) programme, gives access to subsidised nicotine patches and/or gum for between $10 and $20 for an eight-week supply.
To access Quit Cards, talk to your GP, dentist, midwife, optometrist, quit smoking provider or call the national free telephone support line Quitline on 0800 778 778 or visit www.quit.org.nz to order them online.
The short and long-term benefits of quittingQuitting smoking at any age has short and long term health benefits. Quitting will reduce the risks for diseases caused by smoking and will help to improve your health in general.
Get help to quitWant to quit smoking? There is lots of help available, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, quit smoking provider or call the Quitline on 0800 778 778 or visit The Quit Group web site at www.quit.org.nz
Other cessation providers include Aukati Kai Paipa, a face-to-face service developed specifically to meet the needs of Maori women and their whānau.
View more information on stop smoking initiatives and cessation providers on the Links page.
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