Kicking the habit easier from today
Nicola Roxon
posted Tuesday, 1 February 2011
Support is available for smokers ready to butt out with subsidised nicotine patches available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for the first time from today.
“There are many serious health consequences from smoking and we want to provide support to smokers who are ready to kick the habit,” Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, said.
“Smoking kills 15,000 Australians every year and costs our economy $31.5 billion.”
“With subsidised nicotine patches now available for those working with their GP, I hope many Australians take up the challenge and quit in 2011.
"Supporting Australians to kick the habit is part of the Gillard Government’s innovative anti-smoking approach which includes world leading action to mandate plain packaging of tobacco products and the recently launched National Tobacco Campaign alerting smokers that every cigarette brings cancer closer.
From today, smokers wanting to butt out will be able to access Nicotine transdermal patches under the PBS as part of a smoking cessation program.
Nicotine replacement therapy products can assist highly dependent smokers who are motivated to quit. They are designed to reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms while the person quitting concentrates on breaking the habit.
In addition, from today, the anti-smoking drug varenicline (Champix) is now available through the PBS for an additional 12 weeks, helping those smokers who need to use Champix to quit.
Ms Roxon also called upon the Opposition to kick its own habit of supporting big tobacco and instead back the Gillard Government’s Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Amendment Bill 2010, which will bring tobacco advertising on the internet into line with restrictions in other media and at physical points of sale.
“Our internet tobacco advertising legislation will mean that online sales, advertising and promotion of tobacco will now be subject to the same kind of restrictions that are placed on over the counter sales.”
“It will be a test for the Liberal Party to declare if it will support this step and our efforts to mandate the plain packaging of tobacco products from 2012 to keep Australia on track to have the world’s toughest measures against tobacco.”
For help to quit smoking, people should consult their doctor or pharmacist, call the Quitline on 13 7848 or see the Quitline web site at: www.australia.gov.au/quitnow
Tags: Health, smoking