Smoking is in decline

Region setting healthy example

TOWNSVILLE is butting out faster than any other region in Australia, with smoking rates falling more than three times the state average over an eight- year period.

The latest Progress in Australian Regions report has revealed the proportion of adults who are daily smokers declined in almost all major urban areas across the country.

But the largest statistically significant decline in the rate of adult smoking was recorded in Townsville, with a fall of 16.3 percentage points.

That is in stark contrast to the city’s unenviable burden where obesity rates rose faster than any other region over the same period.

In 2014- 15, 12.2 per cent of adults in Townsville were smokers, compared to 28.5 per cent in 2007- 08.

The second next best decline in smoking rates was the Wollongong area with a fall of 6.1 percentage points, while the Gold Coast– Tweed Heads was the only area to record an increase in smokers with a 2.3 per cent rise.

Queensland overall saw a 5.4 per cent decline.

Townsville Modern Hypnosis owner Jeffrey Mack said he was seeing up to 20 clients a week who were looking to give up due to health and financial reasons.

“( Hypnosis) is becoming a very popular way of quitting but people do have to have that part of them that wants to stop,” he said.

Mr Mack said he treated people in the early 20s but the most popular age bracket was 30 to 40 years.

“They usually give up the easiest because they seriously don’t want to do it anymore,” he said.

“They are the kind of people who are more likely to have a mortgage and a family so fi- nancially and health wise it becomes an implication.”

Northern Australia Primary Health Limited CEO Julie Sturgess said the high cost of tobacco products had helped smoking rates decline, as well as policies which made smoking unacceptable in public places and the increased availability of smoking cessation support.

“Any deterrents that slow the uptake and rate of smoking is something that NAPHL supports,” she said.

“We support the use of messaging that demonstrates the benefits of not commencing or ceasing smoking such as reducing the likelihood of cancers, chronic diseases and other harmful effects.”

Ms Sturgess said with an influx of new gyms popping up, boot camps and hill walks, she believed there was now a greater community focus on health and wellness than ever seen before in Townsville.