Media Release

31 May 2007

Teen smokers wouldn't smoke if they had their life again

Preliminary Ministry of Health research indicates that almost three quarters of 15-19 year olds who currently smoke say that if they had their life again they would not smoke.

Dr Ashley Bloomfield, Chief Advisor Public Health, says it is significant that so many young smokers have already decided they don't want smoking in their lives.

"Our research shows about 85 per cent of these young smokers believe they won't be smokers in their 20s. Unfortunately, the evidence suggests many will continue to smoke for many more years, some for the rest of their lives. Smoking tobacco is incredibly addictive and this finding sends a clear message to any young person thinking of taking up smoking - don't, or you will regret it,'' Dr Bloomfield says.

Today marks World Smokefree Day and the focus is on creating a smokefree future for the young people of New Zealand.

This year’s Budget dedicated an additional $43.6 million to tobacco control over the next four years. About $8 million of this is earmarked for further initiatives that aim to reduce the number of young people taking up smoking.

Dr Bloomfield says smoking rates among young people in New Zealand continue to decline -but the Ministry would like to see the numbers drop much further.

Parents and caregivers play an important role in keeping their children smokefree. Most people who take up smoking do so during adolescence and parental non-smoking is a strong protective factor for young people not beginning to smoke. The less often young people see smoking around them, the less normal it seems and the less likely they are to take up smoking themselves.

“When parents are smokefree, they become powerful smokefree role models for their children. If it is not a good time to quit, parents can take positive steps like making their homes and cars smokefree and avoid smoking in front of their children.''

Dr Bloomfield says by creating smokefree environments for their children parents can help their children avoid the poor health and early death that can result from smoking.

For further information go to:

http://www.worldsmokefreeday.org.nz/

Preliminary findings reported here are from the 2006 New Zealand Tobacco Use Survey. The full report will be released by the Ministry of Health next month.

For further information, please contact Michael Flyger, 04 496 2265