Global Health Initiatives: Smoking in Australia

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Educational Campaigns
Relevant International and National Policy
Relevant Partners That Can Help Reduce Smoking Prevalence
Conclusion
References

Introduction

In Australia, smoking is a severe problem that is becoming more acute because it harms not only smokers but also the people around them. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 13% of the countrys population were smokers in 2017. In this regard, the Australian government has taken measures to combat smoking in recent years, including educational and media campaigns. In 2006, Australia became the first country to introduce a law restricting smoking in all public places (Tobacco in Australia, 2021). This measure significantly reduced the number of passive smokers, resulting in a decrease in smoking-related diseases. The effectiveness of educational and mass media campaigns, international and national policies, and relevant partnerships in reducing smoking prevalence in Australia must be evaluated to mitigate the adverse health consequences of smoking.

Educational Campaigns

However, the smoking problem remains in Australia, and the countrys government runs various educational campaigns to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking. For example, the Sober Thinking campaign encourages smokers to consider how their habit affects their health and those around them. In addition, media campaigns in Australia are encouraging people to quit smoking. For example, in 2012, the Quit for You, Quit for Two campaign helped over 180,000 people quit smoking (Quit Now, 2014). Nevertheless, despite the campaigns, the smoking problem remains relevant in Australia. Unfortunately, many people continue to smoke, implying that more efforts are needed to combat this issue.

Relevant International and National Policy

Australias international smoking-reduction policy includes various initiatives and measures to reduce the harmful effects of smoking. The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which Australia signed in 2003, is one such initiative (Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, 2022). This convention includes many measures to reduce tobacco consumption, such as high tobacco product taxes, a prohibition on tobacco advertising, and packaging with imagery that may appeal to smokers.

Furthermore, Australia is a member of the World Health Organization (WHO), which works on various programs and initiatives to reduce smoking in multiple countries worldwide (World Health Organization: WHO, 2022). Australia takes a variety of measures to reduce smoking on a national scale. In 2012, a new standard was introduced that involved raising tobacco taxes (Wilkinson et al., 2019). This measure was successful, resulting in a decrease in the number of smokers in the country. A record tobacco tax was also implemented in 2020, reducing the number of smokers (Wilkinson et al., 2019). Another significant national policy is prohibiting the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to underage people. This is meant to keep children from starting smoking at a young age.

Overall, Australias international and national smoking-reduction policies are quite effective. Despite numerous state-level initiatives, some smokers are still in the country. To combat smoking more effectively, it is necessary to strengthen controls on selling tobacco products to underage people and increase penalties for violating the smoking ban in public places (Smoking, 2017-18 financial year, 2019). Conduct more and larger-scale educational campaigns to raise public awareness of the harms of smoking and encourage people to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Relevant Partners That Can Help Reduce Smoking Prevalence

Reduced smoking prevalence is an essential task for Australia. This goal can be achieved with the help of various partners, including government organizations, non-governmental organizations, the business sector, and activist groups. This text will consider partners who can assist Australia in meeting its smoking prevalence reduction goals. The World Health Organization is the first partner that can help Australia with this task. The WHO has created and supported frameworks to combat the tobacco epidemic at national and international levels (World Health Organization: WHO, 2022). The WHO also offers technical assistance and expert advice on tobacco-related issues.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), such as the Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF), are the second partner. NGOs have experience and expertise in dealing with health issues and can assist the government in developing and implementing measures to reduce smoking prevalence. The ADF, for example, promotes a healthy lifestyle, combats drug, and alcohol abuse, and can significantly contribute to the fight against smoking (Nicotine Alcohol and Drug Foundation, 2022). The business sector is the third partner. Some businesses have already begun to reduce tobacco sales. Supermarkets, for example, could stop selling cigarettes, and tobacco companies could shift to producing safer and healthier alternatives, such as electronic cigarettes. Tobacco regulation may also impact the business sector by restricting the sale of tobacco products.

Finally, activist groups can make a significant contribution to the anti-smoking campaign. They can participate in campaigns promoting a healthy lifestyle and educating people about the dangers of smoking. They can also support legislative efforts to limit tobacco sales. Overall, reducing smoking prevalence necessitates multifaceted and coordinated efforts from various partners (Dono et al., 2022). Each of the partners mentioned above can contribute to this task and help Australia achieve its smoking-prevention goals. Collaboration between these organizations can be an effective way to combat smoking and succeed in this important task.

Conclusion

In conclusion, smoking remains a significant public health concern in Australia, leading to various health issues, including lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory illnesses. Evaluating key global health initiatives, including educational and mass media campaigns, national and international policies, and relevant partnerships, are necessary to curb the prevalence of smoking and its associated adverse health outcomes. Effective strategies must be implemented to raise awareness, increase access to cessation resources, and reduce the social acceptability of smoking. With concerted efforts from various stakeholders, it is possible to mitigate the negative impacts of smoking on public health in Australia.

References

Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. (2022). WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Web.

Dono, J., Martin, K., Bowden, J. A., & Miller, C. (2022). A population-level analysis of changes in Australian smokers preferences for smoking cessation support over two decades from 1998 to 2017. The Lancet Regional Health Western Pacific, 19, 100342. Web.

Nicotine Alcohol and Drug Foundation. (2022). Web.

Quit Now. (2014). Quit for you quit for two. Canberra: Australian Government Department of Health.

Smoking, 2017-18 financial year. (2019). Australian Bureau of Statistics. Web.

Tobacco in Australia. (2021). Legislation to ban smoking in public spaces. www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au. Web.

Wilkinson, A. V., Scollo, M., Wakefield, M., Spittal, M. J., Chaloupka, F. J., & Durkin, S. (2019). Smoking prevalence following tobacco tax increases in Australia between 2001 and 2017: An interrupted time-series analysis. The Lancet. Public Health, 4(12), e618e627. Web.

World Health Organization: WHO. (2022). Tobacco. Web.

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