Tassie’s smoking shame

One in three won’t quit in nation’s worst suburb

THE national response to COVID-19 should prioritise the reduction of smoking among disadvantaged communities, researchers say, as some Hobart suburbs continue to house the most smokers nationwide.

One in three Gagebrook and Bridgewater adults smoke, research released today from the University of Victoria’s Mitchell Institute shows, giving the areas the highest rates of smoking in the country.

It’s the second year in a row the northern Hobart suburbs have ranked highest countrywide, with their rates comparable to national smoking rates during the 1970s. Tasmania’s West Coast ranked third worst nationally, with a smoking rate of 32.6 per cent.

Collectively, Mount Nelson, Sandy Bay and South Hobart recorded the lowest Tasmanian smoking rates at 9.1 per cent. Mitchell Institute researcher Professor Rosemary

Calder said efforts to cut smoking rates had never been more urgent, with evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic indicating smokers were at high risk of poor outcomes.

“Nationally, we have recognised the need for and supported massive investment in keeping people safe and healthy from COVID-19,” she said. “Reducing our smoking rates among disadvantaged groups and communities needs to be given priority in the national response to the COVID-19 crisis.”

Quit Tasmania director Abby Smith said although rates in Bridgewater and Gagebrook remained high, it was encouraging to see smoking rates declining.

“The Mitchell Institute is reporting smoking rates of about 33 per cent in these areas, compared to 40 per cent last year,” she said.

“The smoking rate reduction is evidence of the great work being done in those areas to support people to quit smoking, as well as other complementary public health measures like high level investment in mass media campaigns and increasing smoke-free areas.”

Ms Smith said Quit Tasmania was working with several community service organisations and health services in high smoking rate regions.

She said the State Government also was supporting Quit Tasmania to deliver its 559 Lives project, which provides free nicotine replacement therapy to help people who are smoking while in isolation.

A joint $300,000 drug and alcohol support package was announced by the government and Primary Health Tasmania this week to support grants to community sector organisations providing alcohol and other drug treatment interventions. A further $450,000 technology fund grant had also been made available.