Quit now

Going smoke-free is a Deadly Choice – why?

• Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals – including at least 60 that we know cause cancer.
• There are approx. 19,000 smoking related deaths each year, and smoking tobacco is the largest single preventable cause of death and disease in Australia.
• 41% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples smoke compared to 13% of the Australian population.
• Tobacco smoking is the largest single preventable cause of death and disease in Australia.
• Smoking is expensive. If you smoke 1 pack of cigarettes a day you’ll spend about $10,000 per year!

Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals – including more than 70 of which are known to cause cancer.

It's time to make the Deadly Choice to quit smoking.

1. Smoking leads to cancers, coronary heart disease, respiratory diseases, strokes, and a range of other serious health conditions.
2. Pack-a-day smoking costs over $10,000 per year!
3. Smoking is the main cause of preventable deaths in Australia, causing about 15,000 deaths annually and costing Australia $31.5 billion in social and economic costs.
4. Approximately 39% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples over the age of 15 are current daily smokers.
5. Smoking causes 20% of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult deaths.
6. Tobacco kills approximately half the people that use it.
7. Second hand smoke kills. No ventilation or filtration system can reduce tobacco smoke exposure inside houses and cars to an acceptable level. Only completely smoke-free environments are safe.
8. There are immediate and long-term health benefits as soon as you quit smoking.
9. Within 2-5 years of quitting, your risk of heart attack and stroke drop significantly.
10. Quitting before you’re 30 reduces your risk of lung cancer by 90%, compared to someone who smokes throughout their life.

Benefits of quitting smoking

There are so many benefits to quitting smoking, including

• Decreased heart risks
• Thinner blood, meaning decreased risk of developing blood clots
• Lower cholesterol
• Regrowth of lung cilia, helping fight off infections such as colds
• Prevention of new DNA damage
• Return to normal white blood cell count
• Improvement in blood flow, allowing minerals, nutrients and oxygen to reach wounds more quickly to help them heal properly
• Stronger immune system, muscles, and bones
• Better vision
• Clean mouth
• Sharper hearing
• Clean skin.

Getting help

You aren’t alone in your quit journey. There are a range of places you can get professional help to complement your support.

Myth busting

There are so many myths about quitting smoking and Nicotine Replacement Therapy – how many have you heard?!

It’s time to make a Deadly Choice and quit. Contact your nearest Aboriginal Medical Service and ask about quit smoking programs, Nicotine Replacement Therapy, and other supports they can offer you.