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Australian teens leading charge in eschewing drinking and smoking Australian teens leading charge in eschewing drinking and smoking
(about 1 month later)
Australians are drinking and smoking less than they were three years ago, new research shows, continuing a trend that is strongest among teenagers.Australians are drinking and smoking less than they were three years ago, new research shows, continuing a trend that is strongest among teenagers.
The latest National Drug Strategy Household Survey has found the proportion of daily smokers has dropped 15% since 2010, and those smokers were consuming on average 15 fewer cigarettes a week.The latest National Drug Strategy Household Survey has found the proportion of daily smokers has dropped 15% since 2010, and those smokers were consuming on average 15 fewer cigarettes a week.
Kylie Lindorff, from Cancer Council Victoria, said the result was “the biggest drop we’ve ever seen”.Kylie Lindorff, from Cancer Council Victoria, said the result was “the biggest drop we’ve ever seen”.
“These figures are a triumph of evidence-based public health policy, especially when you compare them with data from previous generations,” Lindorff said. “In the 1960s, more than half of all Australian men were smokers and nearly a third of women. Even in the mid-1990s, smoking rates were around double what they are now.”“These figures are a triumph of evidence-based public health policy, especially when you compare them with data from previous generations,” Lindorff said. “In the 1960s, more than half of all Australian men were smokers and nearly a third of women. Even in the mid-1990s, smoking rates were around double what they are now.”
The previous record fall in daily smoking occurred between 1998 and 2001, which Lindorff put down to price increases due to changes in tobacco excise.The previous record fall in daily smoking occurred between 1998 and 2001, which Lindorff put down to price increases due to changes in tobacco excise.
She said the latest decrease partly reflected sustained high prices and public education campaigns, “but the major thing that happened in the three-year period was plain packaging, so this is a great sign that it’s working as intended”.She said the latest decrease partly reflected sustained high prices and public education campaigns, “but the major thing that happened in the three-year period was plain packaging, so this is a great sign that it’s working as intended”.
Young people were waiting until they were nearly 16 to try their first cigarette, up from about 14 in 1995, while the proportion of those who had never smoked climbed by five percentage points to 77%.Young people were waiting until they were nearly 16 to try their first cigarette, up from about 14 in 1995, while the proportion of those who had never smoked climbed by five percentage points to 77%.
The oldest smokers remain the heaviest consumers, at about 120 cigarettes a week, nearly twice as many as smokers in their 20s, the survey showed.The oldest smokers remain the heaviest consumers, at about 120 cigarettes a week, nearly twice as many as smokers in their 20s, the survey showed.
The proportion of adults who drink daily showed a similar downward trend, falling marginally to 6.5%, the lowest levels seen since 1991.The proportion of adults who drink daily showed a similar downward trend, falling marginally to 6.5%, the lowest levels seen since 1991.
But the overall decline was strongest among young people, who the survey suggested were waiting more than a year longer than teenagers in 1998 – until nearly 16 – to have their first beer or wine. But the overall decline was strongest among young people, who the survey suggested were waiting more than a year longer than teenagers in 1998 – until nearly 16 – to have their first beer or wine.
Research published in April by a University of NSW public health academic, Michael Livingston, showed the decline in teen drinking and drug use has been uniform across gender, age, income, ethnic background, socio-economic status, and teenagers living in the city and country.Research published in April by a University of NSW public health academic, Michael Livingston, showed the decline in teen drinking and drug use has been uniform across gender, age, income, ethnic background, socio-economic status, and teenagers living in the city and country.
The chief executive of the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, Michael Thorn, said the results “clearly confirm that what we’ve thought has been happening since the mid-2000s is definitely happening”.The chief executive of the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, Michael Thorn, said the results “clearly confirm that what we’ve thought has been happening since the mid-2000s is definitely happening”.
“This is a decline that has been detected in a number of countries around the world, including in the United Kingdom and in Scandinavia,” he said.“This is a decline that has been detected in a number of countries around the world, including in the United Kingdom and in Scandinavia,” he said.
But he noted the number of teenagers who sometimes consumed more than 10 standard drinks had dropped only marginally.But he noted the number of teenagers who sometimes consumed more than 10 standard drinks had dropped only marginally.
“Those teenagers who are drinking riskily are still drinking really heavily. That’s of enormous concern and should be the focus of our attention, too. There are fewer teens drinking, but those that do drink, binge.”“Those teenagers who are drinking riskily are still drinking really heavily. That’s of enormous concern and should be the focus of our attention, too. There are fewer teens drinking, but those that do drink, binge.”
The use of ecstasy, heroin and GBH was down, the survey showed, but pharmaceutical drug misuse has crept up. The propensity of methamphetamine users to use the “ice” form of the drug, rather than pills or powders, has more than doubled.The use of ecstasy, heroin and GBH was down, the survey showed, but pharmaceutical drug misuse has crept up. The propensity of methamphetamine users to use the “ice” form of the drug, rather than pills or powders, has more than doubled.