Smoking
1. DEFINITION
The Macquarie Dictionary defines ‘smoke’ as: (1)
i) “An act or spell of smoking tobacco, or the like”.
ii) “That which is smoked, as a cigar or cigarette”.
2. FACTS
Below are some of the risks of smoking: (2)
·Lip, tongue, throat, larynx and oesophagus cancer.
·Increased risk of stroke and a higher susceptibility to panic attacks.
·Heart Attack and increased chance of getting coronary heart disease.
·Asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, pneumonia, wheezing, coughs and colds
·Stomach ulcers and stomach, kidney, pancreas and bladder cancer.
·Premature ageing and wrinkling, increased cellulite.
·Osteoporosis.
·Hair loss, blindness, loss of hearing and sense of smell.
For more risks visit:
http://www.givingupsmoking.co.uk/why_give_up/inside_a_smoker/
Below are some NSW statistics about smoking: (3)
·Smoking is the primary cause of death and illness in NSW.
·Approximately 54, 840 hospitalisations were attributed to smoking.
·In 2002 smoking caused approximately 6, 608 deaths.
·42% of secondary school students stated they had smoked.
3. NSW LEGISLATION
a) Smoke-free Environment Act 2000 No. 69 (4)
·The purpose of this act is to “promote public health by reducing exposure to tobacco and other smoke in enclosed public places”.
·According to Section 7, it is an offence for a person to smoke in a smoke-free area, unless it is part of a play in a theatre or they did not know it was a designated smoke-free area.
·According to Section 9, a designated smoke-free area must have the appropriate signs stating this so patrons know.
·According to Section 10, the owner of a location which has both smoke-free and smoking areas must ensure that the smoke from the smoking areas does not penetrate the non-smoking areas.
·Examples of smoke-free places according to the act are: shopping centres, malls, plazas, restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, dining areas, eating places, schools, colleges, universities, professional, trade, commercial, business premises, community centres or halls and places of public worship, theatres, cinemas, libraries, galleries, trains, buses, trams, aeroplanes, taxis and hire cars, ferries, vessels, hostels, motels, fitness centres, bowling alleys, sporting and recreational facilities, childcare facilities, hospitals.
4. HOW YOU CAN ACT
a) To give up: (5)
·Be aware of what triggers your urge to smoke.
·State your reasons for giving up, write these down and tell friends and family.
·Keep yourself busy, start a new habit such as going to the gym or start a new hobby.
·Decide on a method to stop,
visit: http://www.givingupsmoking.co.uk/how_to_give_up/a-z/
·Join a stop smoking group or phone a stop smoking hotline.
·Visit your GP for help with giving up.
·Enlist the support of friends and family when giving up.
·Replace your cravings with something else,
visit: http://www.givingupsmoking.co.uk/how_to_give_up/Top_Tips/
b) To help a loved one give up: (6)
·Talk to the smoker about why they smoke and about the risks of smoking.
·Urge the smoker to contact their GP about giving up.
·Urge them to find information on the risks of smoking.
·Tell them how their smoking puts others who are around them at risk.
·Do not nag constantly about the smoking, this will have a negative affect on the smoker.
·Tell the smoker that you love and care for them no matter if they smoke or not.
·Let the smoker know that you will be there in any way to support them. Always ask if there is something you can do to aid the process of giving up.
·For more information
visit: http://www.givingupsmoking.co.uk/how_to_give_up/Help_someone/
5. NSW HELP CENTRES
Quitline Service
A confidential telephone service intended to help smokers quit for good. You can talk to a trained telephone advisor about quitting and request a free Quit Kit. You can phone 24 hours/ 7 days a week for a free Quit Kit, and call between 7am-11pm Monday – Friday and 9am-5pm Saturday – Sunday to receive advice and information . (7)
Ph: 13 7848 (13 QUIT)
5. BIBLIOGRAPHY AND FURTHER READING
Cancer institute NSW, Quitline Services Campaign:
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/cancer_inst/campaigns/13quit.html
National Health Service (NHS), Giving up smoking:
http://www.givingupsmoking.co.uk/Home/
National Tobacco Campaign, A Federal, State and Territory health initiative, Quitnow website:
http://www.quitnow.info.au/
NSW health (2004), The health of the people of NSW, Report of the chief health officer, Health related behaviours.
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/chorep/toc/choindex.htm
Parliamentary Counsel’s Office, Smoke-free Environment Act 2000 No. 69, NSW legislation Website
http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au(1) The Macquarie Dictionary (2005) “Smoke”, Macquarie University, Published by Macquarie Library.
(2) All risks found at: NHS, Giving up smoking, why give up, what goes on inside a smoker, http://www.givingupsmoking.co.uk/why_give_up/inside_a_smoker/
(3) Statistics found at: NSW health, The health of the people of NSW, Report of the chief health officer 2004, Health related behaviours: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/chorep/toc/choindex.htm
(4) Parliamentary Counsel’s Office, Smoke-free Environment Act 2000 No. 69,
NSW legislation Website http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au
(5) NHS, Giving up smoking, How to give up:
http://www.givingupsmoking.co.uk/how_to_give_up/
(6) NHS, Giving up smoking, How to give up, Help someone give up: http://www.givingupsmoking.co.uk/how_to_give_up/Help_someone/
(7) Cancer Institute NSW, Quitline Service fact sheet, pp. 1
