A collaborative project initiated by the Cancer Council NSW
in cooperation with social service agencies
Most of us would say we are aware of the health impact of smoking - we've seen the posters and watched the ads. And many may think that smoking is a personal issue. But as we understand more about the relationship between smoking and disadvantage it becomes clear that this is a fundamental social justice issue.
Smoking as a social justice issue
Although smoking has declined over the past thirty years, it remains the leading cause of preventable illness and death in NSW. And it is disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, such as at-risk young people, who are more likely to smoke and who bear a disproportionate share of the burden of suffering, sickness and premature death caused by smoking. Three aspects highlight smoking as a social justice issue: the prevalence of smoking; the impacts of smoking; and the question of choice.
Rates of smoking
While overall smoking rates are around 20% they are much higher for particular groups:
- males 16 -24 years > 27.9%
- females 16 -24 years > 24.5%
If you are also disadvantaged then the chances you smoke will be greater. For example, smoking rates for:
- the unemployed > nearly 30%
- single parents > more than 45%
- Aboriginal people > around 50% (as high as 80% in some communities
- people with mental illness > estimated to be a staggering 70-80 percent
- people with schizophrenia > up to 90% (People with a mental illness also smoke more heavily than other groups).
Impacts of smoking
Each year in NSW nearly 7000 people die of smoking related causes, and life-time smokers lose an average of 13-14 years of their lives. Smoking is a leading cause of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, stroke and cardiovascular disease. Smokers are also more likely to suffer vision and hearing loss, reduced fertility and impotence. Because a lot of these problems occur in middle age and beyond some people don't worry about them. But young smokers also have problems - they are less fit, get more respiratory sickness, and their lungs decline early. They also cough and wheeze more than non-smokers.
Smoking is also bad for your finances. It limits money for essentials such as food, clothes and housing. And it means there's less money for alternative ways of relaxing and entertainment. In a time of changing industrial relations and tightening welfare provisions these issues are likely to become more pressing.
The question of choice
Some people argue that smoking is a matter of personal choice. But many factors affect a person's capacity to make an informed choice. We know that tobacco products are powerfully addictive. The fact that nearly 80% of smokers have tried to quit but have been unsuccessful demonstrates the strength of the addiction. Having family members and friends that smoke increases your chances of starting smoking and reduces your chances of quitting. We know that for some young people smoking is felt to be a way of coping with boredom, or the stress of difficult circumstances or of controlling some part of life.
The focus then, must not just be on smoking behaviour, but on the stresses and environmental conditions that contribute to smoking uptake and make it harder to stop. If we want to assist young people who want to, to quit smoking, we have to provide a supportive environment, active help and alternatives that support that choice. That is what the Tobacco Control and Social Equity Strategy is all about.
What is the strategy and how will it work?
Over the next five years, the Cancer Council NSW will work closely with community service agencies to address the problems of tobacco use amongst our most disadvantaged groups, including vulnerable young people. We want to build awareness and understanding of smoking risks, develop tools to assist people to quit smoking, change social environments to make it easier for people to resist smoking, and influence legislation and policy that effects smoking eg. affordability of Nicotine Replacement Therapy.
We are planning an initial seminar on smoking and social equity and launch of the strategy in Sydney later in 2006. We are keen to explore ways of working together on these issues with youth services and other community organisations.
More information
If you would like to know more about the Tobacco Control and Social Equity Strategy please contact:
Jon O'Brien
(02) 9334 1848
jonb@nswcc.org.au
