KEY POINTS:
Two-thirds of smokers in New Zealand have tried to quit in the past five years, a survey shows.
"This is strong evidence that the majority of smokers are fed up with the habit, and that the Labour-led Government's multi-pronged approach to help people give up makes sense," Associate Health Minister Damien O'Connor said.
The New Zealand Tobacco Use Survey (NZTUS) benchmarks New Zealand's tobacco control performance for the first time and allows international comparisons to be made. The survey will be repeated in 2008.
The survey interviewed about 5700 people aged 15-64 years.
Associate Health Minister Mita Ririnui launched the report from the survey at Parliament today.
"Smoking rates are highest among Maori (45.8 per cent) and Pacific peoples (36.2 per cent). But the Government and sector groups are having success in reaching them. Nearly 68 per cent of Maori and 60 per cent of Pacific peoples have made quit attempts in the past five years," Mr Ririnui said.
The survey also reveals that three quarters of young people would not be smokers if given the choice again, Mr O'Connor said.
"Clearly, once you've started this horrible habit it is very difficult to quit, resulting in around 5000 preventable deaths every year. People should have all the support they can to help them pack it in."
This year's Budget dedicated an additional $43.6 million to tobacco control over the next four years, with about $8 million earmarked for further initiatives that aim to reduce the number of young people taking up smoking, Mr O'Connor said.
Other Labour-led Government initiatives include outlawing smoking in workplaces, campaigns against second-hand smoking, and introducing graphic images on cigarette packets early next year, Mr O'Connor said.
Key findings:
* The prevalence of smokers in New Zealand in 2006 was 23.5 per cent.
* Smoking rates are significantly higher among Maori (45.8 per cent) and Pacific peoples (36.2 per cent) compared to European/Other (20.0 per cent) and Asian ethnic groups (12.0 per cent).
* Smoking prevalence is significantly higher among those who have no educational qualifications (39.2 per cent) compared to those who do.
* District Health Boards with the highest smoking rates include Lakes (34.3 per cent), Northland (35.7 per cent), Tairawhiti (32.1 per cent), Whanganui (35.3 per cent) and Southland (31.2 per cent).
* About 65 per cent of smokers in New Zealand have made a quit attempt in the last 5 years. High percentages of Maori (67.8 per cent) and Pacific peoples (59.9 per cent) have made quit attempts in the last 5 years. These figures are comparable to European/other (64.8 per cent) and Asian (62.2 per cent) ethnic groups. More females (68.9 per cent) have made quit attempts than males (61.0 per cent).
* The average age young people start smoking is 14.6 years.
* Two-thirds of youth smokers had their first cigarette with friends.
* Significantly higher percentages of youths who smoke daily, report mothers, fathers, siblings or girlfriends and boyfriends as being smokers, compared to youths who have never smoked.
* Nearly three-quarters of youth smokers buy their own cigarettes.
* Overall, the majority (72.3 per cent) of youth smokers would not smoke if they had their lives over.
* About 85 per cent of all youth reported that they would not be smokers in their 20s.
* About 12.5 per cent of people reported they were exposed to second-hand smoke inside their homes.
* About 14.9 per cent of people reported they were exposed to second-hand smoke inside cars.
* Just over 8 per cent of people reported they were exposed to second-hand smoke inside at work while nearly 90 per cent of people said no one smoked indoors at work.
* About 7.4 per cent of people reported being exposed to second-hand smoke at public venues.
- NZ HERALD STAFF
