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Excerpts from: Tobacco addicts losing battle to quit

 By THEA WILLIAMS  news.com.australia  [12/20/00]
 
 

                    GOING cold turkey, using hypnotherapy or wearing nicotine patches, at some stage
                    most Australian smokers try to quit – but they cannot resist just one more puff.

                    A survey of Australians' drug habits shows 74 per cent of smokers make at least one
                    attempt a year to wean themselves off nicotine.

                    But 22 per cent continue to smoke despite the risks.

                    The statistics, compiled by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, are based on
                    a 1998 survey of drug and alcohol use in Australian households.

                    Of those who tried to give up smoking, 33 per cent failed, 32 per cent just swapped to
                    another brand with a lower nicotine content and the others cut their daily dose.

                    The best way to give up was to combine support from the QUIT line, nicotine
                    replacement and a new drug, Zyban, which is prescribed by doctors.

                    "When you combine all of those together you've got a very powerful technique," Dr
                    Ellerman said.

                    He said people needed to set a date and plan the process, understand why they
                    smoked and to drink less alcohol at social events.

                    "Friends who are smokers often offer them a cigarette to stir them up," he said. "We
                    always recommend that people nominate a date and muster the support of family and
                    friends."

                    More than 50 per cent of respondents to the institute report supported:

                    STRICTER enforcement of laws to stop minors smoking.

                    BANNING tobacco advertising at sporting events.

                    PROHIBITING smoking in the workplace, shopping malls and restaurants.

                    INCREASING taxes on tobacco products to pay for anti-smoking campaigns and health
                    support.