Victorian teen smoking rates halve in less than a decade

Wednesday 21 July, 2010

In a fantastic result for Quit and Cancer Council Victoria, there has been a further decline in teen smoking rates across the state.

The results of a 2008 study have recently been released, and show that 71% of students surveyed had never smoked at all. The report shows that approximately 6% of 12-15 year olds and 14% of 16-17 year olds are current smokers - half the number of teens who were smoking in 2002.

Quit Executive Director Fiona Sharkie said the results indicated that an estimated 9,000 fewer young people are smoking regularly in Victoria than in the last survey period in 2005.

"Smoking isn't holding the same sway with young people as it once did in Victoria, with more and more teenagers recognising the risks that it carries and choosing to stay away."

The study also found that teenage girls are no more likely to smoke than their male counterparts, contrary to popular belief.

There was a dramatic increase in students' knowledge of the impact smoking has on a person's health, suggesting graphic health warnings are having the desired effect. For example, the 2008 figures show that 80% of students were aware that smoking causes disease in fingers and toes, compared to just 37% in 2005.

"Clearly young people are influenced by changes in pack design. If introducing graphic health warnings can have this effect, the impact of plain packaging will be even greater," Ms Sharkie said.

"The overall downward trend is very encouraging. We know that half of all long-term smokers will die of smoking-related illness. Ultimately, if fewer teenagers are taking up smoking, fewer people will die of preventable illnesses."

Data Source: ‘Victorian secondary school students' use of licit and illicit substances in 2008'

Email this page   Print friendly