The latest Tobacco Use Survey (2009) shows the current smoking rate for New Zealanders aged between 15 and 64 years is 21.8%, down 2.1% from the 2008 rate of 23.9%.

Ministry of Health Acting Deputy Director-General Dr Ashley Bloomfield says the drop of 2.1% in the past 12 months in the age adjusted rate just reaches statistical significance.

“This is excellent news as it confirms the downward trend in smoking shown across surveys.

“Each 1% drop in smoking represents about 30,000 fewer smokers. That’s significant because on average half the people who smoke will die from a smoking related illness,” Dr Bloomfield says.

The 2009 youth smoking rate of 18.0% has also dropped from the 2008 figure of 20.8%. While this decrease is not statistically significant, it confirms an ongoing decline in youth smoking rates evident in the annual survey of year 10 students.

“Our young people are leading the way, as they continue to reject smoking,” Dr Bloomfield says.

The full report on the 2009 Tobacco Use Survey is planned for release in October 2010. The report will provide an overview of smoking patterns among New Zealanders, including starting and quitting smoking, as well as exposure to second-hand smoke. Where possible, the data will provide a breakdown of smoking by gender, age and ethnic group.

Dr Bloomfield says: “We know smoking is highly addictive and therefore difficult to quit. That is why it is important for young people not to start smoking and why it is essential to provide good support for smokers to quit.

“The Ministry is currently seeking to engage all health professionals to ask their patients if they smoke, then provide brief advice to smokers to stop smoking, and offer them cessation support to help them quit.”

Smoking Key Facts
•about 4500 New Zealanders die each year from smoking related illnesses.
•Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable illness and early deaths in New Zealand.
•Eighty percent of New Zealand smokers said they regretted starting to smoke and if they had their time over again they would not smoke (Tobacco Use
•Survey Quitting Report, 2008).
•Quitline 0800 778 778 offers free telephone support, resources and access to low cost nicotine patches, gum and lozenges to New Zealand residents.
•Using nicotine patches, gum and lozenges can double the chance of a person quitting.

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