Smoking is a widely prevalent hazardous habit that can predispose the smoker and the nearby passive smokers to a number of chronic diseases like cancer and cardiopulmonary disorders. One third of the world population are smokers. There are more than 1 billion male smokers and 250 million female smokers. Smoking rates are higher in industrialized countries, when compared to developing countries. Nevertheless, the phase of increase in smoking rate is higher in developing countries, while decreasing rates were observed in developed countries. According to World Health Report, smoking accounts for 3 million deaths annually ("Smoking Statistics", 2016).
According to the WHO statistics, 15 billion cigarettes are sold every day. The number of cigarettes sold per day is more than twice the total population of human being. As per WHO statistics ~ 41% men and ~ 22% women use tobacco. While smoking is predominantly a male habit, the gap between smoking in males and females is less in countries like U.K, Denmark, Austria, Ireland, and Norway. The highest prevalence of smokers among all countries in the world is reported in Greece, Serbia, Russia and Bulgaria. Australia ranks 50 in the world, U.S ranks 51 and U.K ranks 74 in the world highest level of smokers. ("Smoking Statistics", 2016)
WHO has also identified an increasing trend in the use of tobacco among women. As countries have begun to understand the ill effects of smoking and started to implement strict policies like increasing taxes on tobacco products and banning use of tobacco in a public place, a change is expected in tobacco usage. At present there is no data on how the anti-tobacco policies have affected the number of people who smoke.
In Australia, tobacco caused ~ 15,000 deaths every year, as per the 2005 statistics. According to the estimates of the Australian government, the sales of tobacco products in 2013 were 3.5 billion. This was ~0.1 billion tobacco products lesser than the sales in 2012. It has been identified as the leading cause of most preventable deaths and diseases in Australia . Half of all long term smokers, die from smoking associated diseases. Lung cancer is the leading cause of death among male and female smokers in Australia. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer in Australia. In 2013, the smoking rate among Australian men was 17% and in women was 13%. According to the 2013 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, the percentage of smokers aged 14 years or older in the total population were 12.8%. In 1991, it was 24.3%. There has been a considerable decrease in the percentage of smokers from 1991 to 2013. (Creative, 2016)
The prevalence of smoking shows varying trends across different states in Australia (Table 1). The prevalence of current smokers was highest in the Northern Territories (24%), followed by Tasmania (18%), Queensland (17%) and the lowest prevalence is reported in Australian Capital Territory (12%). A significant decline in smoking rates have been observed in all states except the Northern Territories. The level of smoking in Northern Territories has remained consistently higher since 2001. ("1.14 Smoking by Australian states and territories - Tobacco In Australia", 2016)
The tobacco smoke consists of carbon monoxide, hydrocyanic acid, acetaldehydes, acrolein, ammonia, formaldehyde, oxides of nitrogen, nitrosamines, hydrazine vinyl chloride, etc. All these gases and compound are detrimental to health. A majority of these chemicals are carcinogenic. Nicotine and tar in tobacco smoke also cause serious harm to the body. Regular smoking causes addiction to nicotine. This necessitates regular smoking, to maintain the level of nicotine in the blood and to avoid discomfort. ("Department of Health | Tobacco key facts and figures", 2016)
The smoking rate among young adults in 2013 was 13%. It has decreased, considerably from 19% in 2001. According to the NDSHS survey, the age at which the individual starts smoking has increased from 15.4 years to 15.9 years. In 2013, 95% of the children aged 12 to 15 years, did not smoke. ("Smoking statistics", 2016)
The smoking rates in aboriginal are more than twice of that present in the non-indigenous population. Smoking rates are high among people from the low education group and low socioeconomic groups. Individuals aged 14 years and older are three times more likely to be smokers, than people with high socioeconomic status. Similarly, employed people are less likely to smoke than unemployed people. The smoking rate among people in rural communities was two times higher than in urban communities. ("Smoking statistics", 2016)
Tobacco smoke not only harms the smoker, but can also affect the health of people who passively inhale the smoke, and it is also harmful to the environment. It can cause sudden death syndrome in infants and can also sensitize children to respiratory problems. Smoking is an important public health concern and there has been an overall decreasing trend in the use of tobacco in Australia. There has also been a decrease in the smoking rate among the aboriginal and Torres strait islander. An important reason for this favorable trend, are the efforts of the Australian government’s tobacco control program. Public education campaigns, and awareness created by the media, has helped in educating the masses on the problem. Similarly, implementing high taxes, and increasing the price of tobacco products, has helped in discouraging its use. The ban on advertising tobacco products has also contributed to decreasing the popularity of the habit, in the population. The government also promoted smoke free environment by imposing a ban on smoking in public places. All these efforts have contributed to the changing scenario seen in Australia. Though the legal age for purchasing tobacco is 18years in Australia, current smoking rates were 5% in male and 9% in females, aged 15-17 years ("4125.0 - Gender Indicators, Australia, Jan 2013", 2016).
Though smoking rates have decreased, it still prevalent at levels that are sufficient to cause health concerns in the population. Though awareness, taxes and bans can help prevent new smokers, the old smokers have a hard time quitting. Thus, there is a need for a group to help chronic smokers quit smoking. Australia has a national team that helps citizens with quitting tobacco. Like any substance abuse, smoking is also associated with a ‘cold turkey’ phase, where the body craves for nicotine and thus the feeling of anxiety, irritability and hunger. There are no official statistics on the prevalence of smoking in the year 2015, and thus the prominence of the problem today, cannot be identified. Nevertheless, a more focused intervention for vulnerable groups like children, aboriginal population and those from low socioeconomic status, will help lower the prevalence of smoking. ("Quitting smoking - Cancer Council Australia", 2016)
Smoking causes serious health and economic loss to the nation. Smoking in the presence of other occupational pollutants like asbestos, radiation, or cotton can act as additive or multiplicative occupational hazard. In pregnant women, smoking is associated with growth retardation and mental retardation in children. Smoking can also affect the psychology of the person. Studies indicate that children of parents who smoke are more likely to become smokers when compared to children of non-smoking parent.
Conclusion: There are more than ~ 1.1 billion smokers in the world and it is expected to increase to 1.6 billion in 2025. As per WHO statistics ~ 41% men and ~ 22% men use tobacco product worldwide. In Australia, the statistics is based on smokers count and thus it is difficult to compare with overall prevalence worldwide. In 2013, the smoking rate among Australian men was 17% and in women it was 13%. Though there has been an overall decline in smokers in Australia, it is still a health concern, and an important cause of many chronic diseases in Australia. Certain states like the Northern Territories, continue to show increased trends. There is a need for focused smoking awareness campaign, and further research would be needed, to understand the reason for the high prevalence of smoking in this territory. Unemployment and lack of education may be positively associated with smoking in these regions.
Abbreviation: NSW-New South Wales, Vic-Victoria, Qld-Queensland, WA-Western Australia, SA-Southern Australia, Tas-Tasmania, ACT-Australian Capital Territory, and NT-Northern Territory.
Ref: ("1.14 Smoking by Australian states and territories - Tobacco In Australia", 2016)
References
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4125.0 - Gender Indicators, Australia, Jan 2013. (2016). Abs.gov.au. Retrieved 24 March 2016, from http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4125.0main+features3320Jan%202013
Creative, B. (2016). Smoking in Australia -Â ACOSH Australian Council on Smoking and Health - The epidemic of smoking in Australia continues. Acosh.org. Retrieved 24 March 2016, from http://www.acosh.org/smoking-in-australia/
Quitting smoking - Cancer Council Australia. (2016). Cancer.org.au. Retrieved 24 March 2016, from http://www.cancer.org.au/preventing-cancer/smoking-and-tobacco/quitting-smoking.html
Smoking statistics. (2016). www.gov.au.betterhealth.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 24 March 2016, from https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/smoking-statistics
Smoking Statistics. (2016). WHO Western Pacific Region. Retrieved 24 March 2016, from http://www.wpro.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs_20020528/en/
Who is smoking? (2016). Euro.who.int. Retrieved 24 March 2016, from http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/tobacco/data-and-statistics/who-is-smoking
