Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 – will you be smokefree in 10 years

1 January 2015
Media Release

Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 –
will you be smokefree in 10 years time?

The goal of a Smokefree Aotearoa 2025, whereby less than five per cent of the population smokes, is just 10 years away. In the last 10 years, Quitline has supported almost half a million New Zealanders to quit smoking and the organisation plans to help even more over the next decade.

Quitline estimates that a pack-a-day smoker who quits smoking today will have saved $67,890 by 2025 and this does not even account for tax increases.

By 2025 the same person will also have dramatically reduced his or her risk of developing life-threatening cancer of the mouth, throat, oesophagus or lung.

Quitline CEO Paula Snowden explains: “Every hour, day, week, month and year that you go without smoking, your health will improve. When you quit, your body starts to repair itself straightaway. Within eight hours your heartbeat slows down to normal, and your blood pressure goes down. The carbon monoxide is out of your system within a day and your lungs work better.

“Within five years your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat and oesophagus is half that of a person who continues to smoke and within ten years your risk of lung cancer is less than half that of a person who continues to smoke.

“Quitting is a fantastic thing to do at any age – you’ll live longer and your quality of life will improve. We know children of smokers are seven times more likely to become smokers themselves so you’ll also be setting a great example for your kids and grandchildren.”

Quitline phone lines (0800 778 778) are open from 8.00am - 9.30pm on New Year’s Day and Advisers (most of whom are former smokers) are ready to talk to anyone who wants to chat about quitting.

Quitline also says that the Government needs to do more to support people to quit. “We know that tax increases work to prompt quitting and we need to keep introducing them in a way that hits the tobacco industry in their back pocket. Plain packaging has proven to work in Australia and we should introduce that in New Zealand, sooner rather than later. Finally, we need to hold the industry accountable and implement measures to control supply such as a register for tobacco retailers.”

- ENDS –

Tips for quitting
When you are ready to quit:
• set a Quit date
• tell your family, friends and co-workers that you plan to quit
• be ready to cope with physical cravings by getting nicotine patches, gum or lozenges
• know what will make you want to smoke (your triggers)
• remove all your cigarettes, tobacco, ashtrays and lighters from your home, car and workplace.

To read more about the health benefits of quitting smoking please see Quitline’s website: http://www.quit.org.nz/20/reasons-to-quit/health-benefits

To check out money savings using Quitline’s calculator please see:
http://www.quit.org.nz/21/reasons-to-quit/money-benefits

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