Priority S3:

Improved health through reduced obesity, smoking, illicit drug use and risk drinking

S3(a-b): Risk drinking and smoking

The average life expectancy in NSW is among the highest in the world, yet many people still die prematurely. A large number of these deaths can be linked to diseases and conditions that result from unhealthy lifestyles.

Nearly a third of people engage in risk drinking behaviour. smoking is responsible for 22 per cent of cancer deaths and 13 per cent of all cardiovascular deaths for persons aged 35-69 years and 19.19 per cent of all persons.

By improving the health of individuals we reduce the pressure on our hospital system.

Targets

• Continue to reduce smoking rates by 1 per cent per annum to 2010, then by 0.5 per cent per annum to 2016
• Reduce total risk drinking to below 25 per cent by 2012

Although the target for reduced smoking rates applies to the whole population, we aim to exceed this target for the Aboriginal population where smoking rates are higher (43.2 per cent estimated for 2002-2005) than within the general population (17.7 per cent).

Progress

In 2006, 32.8 per cent of the adult population in NSW engaged in any risk drinking behaviour - down from 42.3 per cent in 1997.

The NSW Government announced in April a drop in smoking prevalence rates (smoking daily or occasionally) from 20.1% in 2005 to 17.7% in 2006 (19.2% for males, 16.2% for females). This is a further drop from the rate of 24% in 1997.

In 2006 prevalence of daily smoking was 13.9%. 15% of males are daily smokers compared to 12.9% of females.

These figures confirm the Government's long term investment on anti-smoking initiatives are working.

Recent Actions

Smoking

• Continuing the anti-smoking social marketing campaigns implemented by the Cancer Institute NSW and continuing to provide a counselling and call-back service to the community through the NSW Quitline to encourage and support smoking cessation.
• Provision of competency based training in smoking cessation to over 300 health professionals across NSW via videoconference under the Telehealth Initiative.
• Implementation of the final phase of the Smoke-free Environment Act 2000,which bans smoking in all enclosed public places including enclosed places in licensed premises (pubs and clubs) as of July 2nd 2007,
• Ongoing compliance monitoring of all aspects of tobacco related legislation.

Risk Drinking

• State-wide expansion of the successful Alcohol Linking Program to target licensed premises that have irresponsible drinking practices.
• Expansion of the Supply Means Supply Program to tackle underage drinking through education of young people, adults and the liquor industry.
• 'Be a part of it, not out of it' campaign was piloted in four parts of NSW, targeting young males between the ages of 14 and 29. The campaign challenged the culture of how much and the way people drink with the message that getting drunk can result in serious harms to you and your community.