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Problem
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Cigarette smoking risks are extreme. Yet
653,000 (21% of) adults smoke (2006 Census) - with a 1 in 2
risk of dying early (13 years early on average). www.smokeless.org.nz/cigarettesmokingrisks.htm
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Smoking is only slowly reducing: –
70 years may be needed to phase out cigarette deaths. http://www.smokeless.org.nz/smokingprojections.htm
People
smoke for nicotine, but die from the smoke.
More
effective (smokeless) nicotine products can satisfy addicted smokers
so they don’t need to smoke.
What smokers say
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84% wouldn’t smoke if they had
life again.
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72% believe they are addicted to
smoking.
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46% tried to stop smoking in the past
1 year.
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5% succeeded in stopping smoking in the
past year- 2003
tobacco use survey, U. of Auckland
What smokers may not know
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Smoking kills, nicotine addicts.
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Cigarettes are far more
dangerous than any other tobacco, due to the inhaled smoke.
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Low-nitrosamine snuff is 95% less harmful
than smoking; nicotine without smoke (the electronic (Nicotine gum,
lozenge, patch; and the (nicotine inhaler) cigarette) are safer
still.
How SmokeLess aims to
ensure smokers can quit smoking with much more success
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by advocacy for sale and display, of
reduced risk, low-cost nicotine and snuff alternatives;
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by advocacy for reducing cigarette nicotine, reducing
addiction to cigarette
smoke;
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by advocacy for taxing, then phasing out, cigarettes sales
within 10 years, to protect the next generation.
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Achieved in 2006-7
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Incorporation of SmokeLess
NZ,
a charitable trust, in March 2006; with tax-exempt status.
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Launch of website – a key
reference site on smoking, statistics & smokers’ risks and
options.
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Policy launch - at U of
Auckland symposium Towards a Smokeless New Zealand March 2006,
on TV1 and TV3 news; Editorial, NZ Medical Journal, July 2006;
meetings with public health groups.
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Product test. Swedish Match test-markets
nasal snuff through tobacconists, April 2007.
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Product research on fast-acting
nicotine at U. of Auckland: funded by Heart Foundation
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Permission to import Swedish snuff given for
personal use in any quantity (Customs), or for research (Ministry of
Health).
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Public support for sales ban. 52% of
adults want cigarette sales
ended.
(TV3 poll May 2006) www.smokeless.org.nz/polls1.htm
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E-newsletter monthly to the smokefree sector www.smokeless.org.nz/newsitems2007.htm
Service delivery plans
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Regular surveys of smokers and nonsmokers’
views on smoking, snuff and nicotine.
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Enhance website to underpin research on nicotine and
snuff as stop-smoking aids.
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Product information for smokers: Example: www.smokeless.org.nz/nasalsnuff.htm
www.smokeless.org.nz/ecigarette.htm
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Funds to cover expenses incurred by the
trust.
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