Support for prisoners to quit smoking needed

28 June 2010

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) NZ

ASH says support for prisoners to quit smoking needed

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is welcoming the announcement by Corrections Minister Judith Collins on a smoking ban for prisons.

ASH is urging for support for prisoners to quit smoking, including access to a full range of smoking cessation nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) so smokers do not have to quit cold turkey.

At the moment prisoners are offered the standard eight-week course of NRT patches.

ASH director Ben Youdan would like to see levels of support “beefed up” given that the prison population smoking rate is estimated at over 65 per cent compared to the general population’s smoking rate of around 21 per cent.

“Second hand smoke is a danger for both the workplace and in home-like environments. The Department of Corrections has 12 months to plan on how to offer smoking cessation support.”

“This move is consistent with what is happening in other countries, including Australia and the UK. It is also consistent with all other workplaces that are required to be smokefree and also with other state run institutions, including mental health facilities.”

“It is important for prisoners to have access to trained smoking cessation providers and NRT including patches and lozenges to help manage withdrawal symptoms,” said Mr Youdan.

ENDS

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