Health risks associated with smoking include cancers, respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and emphysema, and circulatory diseases including thrombosis and heart disease.
The 2001 National Health Survey showed that, of Tasmanians aged 18 years and over:
- a higher proportion of males were smokers (25.0%), than females (23.7%)
- a higher proportion of males were ex-smokers (30.8%) than females (22.5%).
SMOKING STATUS, by sex, Tasmania - 2001
|
| Males | Females | Persons |
| | |
|
Status | % | % | % |
|
Smoker | 25.0 | 23.7 | 24.3 |
Ex-smoker | 30.8 | 22.5 | 26.5 |
Never smoked | 44.2 | 53.8 | 49.1 |
Total | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
Source: ABS Data available on request, 2001 National Health Survey. |
SMOKER STATUS BY AGE
The smoking rate was highest among those Tasmanians aged 18-34 years (34.6%) and lowest among those Tasmanians 65 years and over (9.8%).
Interestingly among those Tasmanians aged 65 years and over, 51.4% had never smoked, whereas just 41.0% of Tasmanians aged 55-64 had never smoked.
SMOKER STATUS, by age, Tasmania - 2001 |
|
Age Group (years) |
|
|
| 18-34 | 35-44 | 45-54 | 55-64 | 65 and over |
| | | | | |
Status | % | % | % | % | % |
|
Smoker | 34.6 | 27.8 | 23.1 | 12.7 | 9.8 |
Ex-smoker | 14.0 | 23.5 | 27.3 | 46.3 | 38.8 |
Never smoked | 51.4 | 48.7 | 49.7 | 41.0 | 51.4 |
Total | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
|
Source: ABS data available on request, 2001 National Health Survey. |
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Legislation
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