Quarter of smokers won't quit -- even for their kids
Tuesday May 19 2009
A quarter of smokers with children say they would not quit -- even if it encouraged their youngsters not to start.
One-in-10 smokers claim their parents approved of their habit, according to a new survey.
It also found that three-quarters of current smokers grew up in a house where at least one parent smoked.
The survey calculated that smoking 20 cigarettes a day will cost up to €3,000 a year.
The research was carried out by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to coincide with a new anti-smoking campaign in a bid to cut the 7,000 deaths from smoking-related disease here annually.
Around 44pc of current or past smokers say they go through between 11 and 20 cigarettes daily, but 15pc were having 21or more.
"The single most important thing you can do to improve your health and protect your children is to give up smoking," HSE public health specialist Dr Fenton Howell said.
He pointed out that most smokers begin before the age of 18 years, so a parents' attitude and behaviour is crucial to reducing their chances of taking up the habit in the first place.
When asked if their parents smoked when they were children, some 75pc of those surveyed said their mother lit up in the house, compared with 67pc for their dad. Despite the new etiquette about smoking outdoors, 52pc of current smokers admitted they smoked in the house. Some 68pc claim they smoke in the garden or garden shed, while 69pc light up when out socialising.
Catherine Murphy, from the HSE's health promotion wing, urged people considering quitting to seek help.
"Quitting smoking is a challenge, most smokers will attempt to quit a number of times," Ms Murphy said.
"We would encourage any smoker trying to quit to seek support and services -- the statistics show that smokers who use a smoking cessation service or avail of treatments are much more likely to be successful in quitting."
Website
The HSE has launched a new website www.giveupsmoking.ie to coincide with the campaign.
It provides a plan to help people quit along with information about the health and financial benefits of quitting. It also hosts questionnaires to identify the addiction levels of the smoker and the personal triggers and cravings for smoking. Aine Brady, junior minister for older people and health promotion, said: "Smoking remains a leading public health problem responsible for much preventable illness and death.
"At a societal level we must continue to support anti-tobacco measures particularly to prevent children from starting to smoke and to assist those smokers, where possible, in kicking the habit."
- Eilish O'Regan Health Correspondent
