Tobacco Control and Smoking Quit Smoking It can be difficult but keep trying Tobacco use surveys Initiatives funded by the Ministry of Health The short and long-term benefits of quitting Get help to quit It can be difficult but keep trying It 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 surveys Recent 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. Back to top Initiatives funded by the Ministry of Health The 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 quitting Quitting 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. Back to top Get help to quit Want 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. Back to top Website feedback We welcome your feedback on this page.

Related information Aotearoa New Zealand 2007-2008 Smokefree / Auahi Kore Directory This comprehensive directory of individuals and organisations involved in the smokefree push in New Zealand. The Quit Group The Quit Group is a charitable trust funded by the Ministry of Health to run quit smoking programmes in New Zealand. Aukati Kai Paipa A face-to-face quit smoking service developed specifically to meet the needs of Māori women and their whānau. New Zealand Tobacco Use Survey 2006 The first NZTUS 2006 report was launched on 28 June 2007. Tobacco Trends 2006: Monitoring Tobacco Use in New Zealand Tobacco Trends 2006 provides estimates of the prevalence of tobacco use in New Zealand. ASH Year 10 Survey (www.ash.org.nz) This survey is conducted annually amongst about 30,000 New Zealand students aged 14 and 15 years old.

Page last updated: 27 February 2008