Tags:

Me topics

Dr G is here to help

Me articles

Quitting the habit - stopping smoking

Smoking gets more expensive

On 29 April 2010 the Excise and Excise-equivalent Duties Table (Tobacco Products) Amendment Bill was passed by the New Zealand Parliament.

What does this mean for smokers? The price of roll your own tobacco will increase by 20%, and cigarettes by around 8%. There will be further increases in January 2011 and 2012.

The Pulse encourages all young people to be smoke free.

If you smoke, one of the best things you can do for your health is stop. Now.

There are many organisations in New Zealand promoting quitting smoking. ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) has good information on its site - ways to stop smoking, including options for giving up, nicotine replacement therapies, and group therapies.

The Quit Group is a charitable trust set up to run quit smoking programmes in New Zealand, including the national free telephone support Quitline. It offers free telephone support, resources and low cost nicotine patches or gum to New Zealand residents. People can phone 0800 778 778 to speak to a Quitline Advisor.

Cigarette packetThe Cancer Society runs a Quit Smoking website.

Useful resources to help you stop smoking

* Aukati Kaipaipa
Helping Māori become auahi kore - smokefree. Free nicotine patches, a Quit coach and more.
* The Quit Group - Te Roopu Me Mutu
If you're sick of what cigarettes are doing to your body, your breath and your bank account check this out. There are PDF information sheets on subjects including nicotine gum and patches, the benefits of stopping smoking and helping others quit. Resources are also available in languages other than English. Helping others quit is a PDF that lists ways you can help people you know quit.
* Smokefree Law in New Zealand
All about (not!) smoking in bars & restaurants from the Ministry of Health
* Smoking
Reasons to not smoke other than it will kill you, how not to start etc
* Smoking and Cancer: A Cancer Society Fact Sheet
A PDF from the Cancer Society listing the cold, hard facts.
* Tobacco Control and Smoking
The Ministry of Health website has information on tobacco control and smoking including news and details of the warnings on tobacco packages.
* Txt 2 Quit
Txt2Quit is a way to help you quit smoking using your mobile.
* Understanding Smoking
Powerful message about cigarette smoking and how NOT to start.

April 2010

Disclaimer

Our health pages provide access to information not advice.
We aim to provide access to current, accurate health information, however we do not assume responsibility for any errors or omissions in published sources and have no control over the conduct of the companies or organisations operating the web sites we link to. For diagnosis, treatment and medication advice you should always consult a health practitioner.
Before you disclose any personal information to another site, we advise you to check its terms and conditions, including its privacy and security policies.