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Tobacco

E-cigarettes

By Health Promotion

eCigarette

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are devices that produce a vapour which is breathed in. The process is similar to smoking, except you don’t have to burn the tobacco.

E-cigarettes are often promoted as a healthier option, but this may not be the case. Many e-cigarettes still contain nicotine as well as other potentially harmful chemicals such as ammonia that are breathed into your lungs and very quickly absorbed into your body. Smokers inhale so much and so frequently that we just don’t know what the impacts of these chemicals will be. However, we do know e-cigarettes containing nicotine are addictive, just like tobacco.

Smoking e-cigarettes is not recommended as a means to quit tobacco smoking. If you are trying to quit smoking, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is a better choice. NRT is designed to gradually release nicotine into your body to help relieve symptoms you may get when you are trying to quit. However, NRT avoids the surge of nicotine that enhances addiction. It’s that surge of nicotine from a cigarette or an e-cigarette that provides the reward and keeps you addicted. NRT avoids this, while buffering withdrawal symptoms.

Quitting smoking can improve your quality of life by having a positive impact on your physical health. What’s more, research shows that, after the nicotine withdrawal has been overcome, there are substantial long-lasting improvements to your mental health with reduced levels of anxiety and depression. Swapping to e-cigarettes won’t give you the same result.

If you would like help to quit, or you would like to refer someone to get help, call the Quitline on 13 7848, or talk to your health professional.


E-cigarettes – the top 5 issues


1. Availability and take-up is increasing

In countries like the USA where e-cigarettes are very easy to buy, young people have been taking them up at an alarming rate. In 2014, e-cigarette use tripled among high school students compared to the previous year. Even more alarmingly, there was no downward trend in tobacco use.

2. They are a gateway to smoking tobacco and other drugs

Studies around the world (such as these from the USA, Canada and Germany) have found high school students who have never smoked, but start using e-cigarettes, are much more likely to end up smoking tobacco.

3. No one can be sure they’re safe

E-cigarettes have the potential to be addictive, which means people are at risk of exposure to large amounts of nicotine and other potentially harmful chemicals. Some of these chemicals are not in tobacco smoke, so it is unknown what long-term health consequences they will have. However, evidence is growing, and some studies have linked them to issues such as blood pressure, heart rate and arterial stiffness. Both the Australian Government and World Health Organization have recently issued warnings on the health implications of inhaling harmful toxics in e-cigarettes.

4. They don’t help people quit

When e-cigarettes were first available, it was thought they could be used to help smokers cut down and eventually quit smoking tobacco. Since then, more evidence has come to light. E-cigarettes aren’t any more effective at helping people quit. Worse, they often result in smokers using both e-cigarettes and tobacco.

5. They are not regulated in many countries

Even though restrictions on tobacco advertising and product placement have been in place for many years, e-cigarettes are not as tightly governed… yet. Like tobacco companies before them, e-cigarettes have snuck their way into Hollywood movies because it’s a tried and tested way of getting people to smoke.

NSW Health has been careful in regulating the use of e-cigarettes. Click here to read more about the regulations in place.

Filed Under: Adults, Featured Posts, Health Professionals, Older People, Tobacco, Young People

Smoke-free outdoor public places

By Health Promotion

Smoke free outdoor public places Young Boy smiling on slide

Smoking bans protect from the harms of second-hand smoke. There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke. Smoking bans in outdoor public areas have been have made because:

  • they are often visited by children and families and they can be crowded
  • they allow limited opportunity for people to avoid second-hand smoke
  • this approach will achieve an important reduction in many people’s exposure to second-hand smoke and;
  • this approach will create a more supportive environment for those who have quit.

If you think a smoking ban has been broken, please advise the NSW Ministry of Health by completing the online reporting form.

Find out more …

Filed Under: Adults, Tobacco Tagged With: outdoor public areas, second-hand smoke, Smoking bans

Tobacco Sales to Minors

By Health Promotion

Tobacco Sales 2 Minors

Central Coast Health Promotion Service conducts compliance testing of tobacco retailers as a means of enforcing the ban on sales of cigarettes to under eighteen year olds.

Teen volunteers were first engaged in testing retailer-selling behaviour in 1994. A unique feature of the Central Coast where big reductions in teen smoking occurred between 1996 and 1999 was the emphasis on direct intervention in supply. through conducting sales to minors operations.

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Filed Under: Adults, Older People, Tobacco, Young People Tagged With: restricting retail supply, Smoking bans, Tobacco sales to minors

iCanQuit

By Health Promotion

Blue skies

Ready to quit smoking? It’s easier with iCanQuit.  Find out how to quit smoking, start your quit journey and stop smoking for good. Find out more 

Filed Under: Adults, Featured Posts, Health Professionals, Older People, Tobacco, Young People Tagged With: icanquit, quit smoking

Smoking cessation in financial counselling organisations

By Health Promotion

Financial Counselling

Smoking rates are higher in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. To address this health inequity, Central Coast Health Promotion is in the early stages of working with local financial counsellors to explore ways we can support them in helping their clients stop smoking.

Our aim is to provide training and resources to embed smoking cessation support in financial counsellors’ practice. Given the high cost of cigarettes, supporting financial counselling clients to quit smoking will not only have benefits for their health, but will also reduce financial stress too.

 

Filed Under: Adults, Older People, Tobacco, Young People Tagged With: Financial literacy

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