Youngers smokers call the quitline in New Zealand

According to a new study, younger smokers are calling the quitline in New Zealand. LISTEN

Age of NZers quitting smoking dropping - study - NZPA

Thursday June 14, 2007

There has been a drop in the age of people quitting smoking in New Zealand, according to a new study.

The research, by the Quit Group, was published today in The New Zealand Medical Journal.

It looked at trends in the types of smokers calling the Quitline, a national free-phone smoking cessation service.

Researchers Judy Li and Michele Grigg found that between 2001 and 2005 there was a 67 percent increase in the proportion of callers under 25 years of age.

Ms Grigg said they found callers had become younger over the five-year period and there was a noticeable increase in people aged 15 -19 years calling the Quitline.

"This finding backs up recently released research showing most young smokers regret taking up the habit," she said.

Ms Grigg said another factor was that young people may be affected by mass media quit campaigns, although these were not aimed at a youth audience.

The study also highlighted an increase in the percentage of pregnant women calling the Quitline. Ms Grigg said the numbers were small but statistically significant.

"It is heartening to see a gradual decrease in the number of young women who are smoking and an increased number of pregnant callers to the Quitline."

Other trends to emerge from the research included an increase in the proportion of Quitline callers smoking roll-your-own cigarettes and a 54 percent increase in the proportion of Pacific callers to the Quitline.

The Quit Group is a charitable trust set up to run quit smoking programmes in New Zealand. It runs the free national Quitline 0800 778 778, develops quit smoking media campaigns and produce evidence-based tobacco control facts and figures.

Comments

[swedsnus]

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[Nick Matyas]

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[fil can]

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