We know that cigarette smoke exposes smokers to horrific health consequences – but this week we have even more proof that banning smokers from lighting up in public areas improves the health of the community at large.
Letter to the Editor, first published by The Age, 17 April 2010
Dear Sir/Madam,
We know that cigarette smoke exposes smokers to horrific health consequences – but this week we have even more proof that banning smokers from lighting up in public areas improves the health of the community at large.
Research published by international health journal The Cochrane Library on Wednesday brought together results from 50 international studies that examined changes in the health of the general public from six months after smoking bans in public were enforced.
Not only was there a reduction in the number of people admitted to hospital with heart attacks in those areas, but, public approval of the bans increased after they were introduced.
Smokefree environments enjoy very high levels of support in the community – even among smokers.
This latest research reinforces that government legislation works – and brings us one step closer to getting cigarettes off our streets, out of our playgrounds, parks, beaches and outdoor areas once and for all.
We know from Australian evidence that smokefree environments are also effective in reducing the amount of cigarettes smoked.
A huge amount of work is currently underway to encourage and support smokers to kick the habit for good and importantly, to stop people forming an addiction in the first place.
As a community, we have made great progress in reducing harms from tobacco and we can achieve more by cracking down on marketing, extending public smokefree environments, educating the community about the ill-effects of tobacco, raising the price of cigarettes and channelling more of these taxes into programs to support and encourage smokers to quit.
With support from governments, local councils and the community to eradicate exposure to secondhand smoking from all public areas, we can all breathe a little easier.
Todd Harper
Chief Executive Officer
VicHealth (Victorian Health Promotion Foundation)
Carlton
For confirmation call Jane Gardner at VicHealth on 03 9667 1319.
