NORTHERN District Community Health has called on the community to sign up to the fight against smoking and vaping.
NDCH has put out a call to action to increase no smoking or vaping signage across the region.
The day’s theme this year was “Tobacco-Free: Commit to Quit,” and NDCH took the chance to invite community groups to learn about the importance of a smoke-free environment.
The team at NDCH asked local community groups, schools and sporting clubs to enter their details online to receive a free ‘No smoking or vaping’ sticker.
Schools, kindergartens and childcare centres are able to choose to receive an A4 sized metal sign if they prefer.
NDCH chief executive officer Mandy Hutchinson said the day is important to the fight against the harm smoking and vaping causes to communities.
“Our commitment is that every individual deserves the opportunity to lead a tobacco-free life,” she said.
“As a local health service, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive support to prevent people from taking up smoking or vaping and to support others to quit.
“World No Tobacco Day is a call to action to put a spotlight on the terrible health, social and economic consequences of smoking and vaping and our organisation stands ready to support the community.”
Health promotion team leader, Tanya Maher-Toose said it was hard to see the growth in e-cigarettes and vaping.
“Vaping rates combined with cigarette smoking rates are presenting a worrying picture for the numbers of people in Australia, who vape, smoke or both,” she said.
“A recent survey showed that of the 14 per cent of secondary students who had used a vape, almost half of these students had never smoked a cigarette, however 25 per cent of these students who had vaped then went onto try tobacco cigarettes.
“E-cigarette companies are multi-billion-dollar enterprises who market their products to children, youth and adults in very underhanded ways.
“They use flavours, colours and packaging that appeals to people, and our job as health professionals is to make sure people understand the risks and what we know about the harms.
“We are also here to support people to understand their addictions and support them to quit.
Ms Maher-Toose said the real impact of vaping is not yet known.
“Vaping is relatively new compared to tobacco smoking,” she said.
“There is a lot of misinformation about vapes, but I think most in the community know about the harms associated with tobacco smoking.
“E-cigarettes or vapes when prescribed by a GP can support some people to quit cigarettes successfully, but vapes are now their own problem, with them being more readily available on the street.
“Really, we are just beginning to learn about some of the toxic chemicals in vapes. That’s the concern, we don’t really know what’s in vapes.”
Community groups wanting to sign-up to receive their no-smoking stickers or signs can find the link on NDCH’s website or Facebook page.
