RURAL doctors continue to support their patients to quit smoking, but smoking rates are still climbing between metro, rural and remote populations.

In conjunction with World No Tobacco Day earlier this week (May 31), Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) president, Dr Megan Belot, said that smoking remained a terrible health concern in many rural communities.

“For some reason smoking rates get higher the further you head into the bush,” she said.

“The first thing we need to do is prevent addiction from happening.

“Young people need to be discouraged from smoking in the first place and made aware of the health and wellbeing risks of such an expensive and harmful choice.

“This includes vaping, with its potentially harmful chemicals and habit-forming behaviours.”

She cited statistics from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) National Drug Strategy Household Survey which highlighted the differences.

“Overall, the proportion of smokers is dropping, but they remain at 19.6 per cent in remote and very remote areas, 13.4 per cent in inner regional areas, and are down to 9.7 per cent in major cities,” Dr Belot said.

“This is particularly concerning as screening programs, cancer treatments, and many other health care services are less available to people in rural and remote areas, making early diagnosis less likely and treatment more difficult.

“It is hard to say what factors are at play that result in this higher level of smoking, but we need everyone in our communities to help encourage smokers to quit, and to provide support to them through that difficult process.

“Each year about half of all smokers try to quit permanently, but tobacco is highly addictive and of this 50 per cent, only about six per cent actually manage it.”

Dr Belot said whilst it was common for smokers to fail the first time at quitting, she encouraged them not to give up.

“Most smokers need to make multiple attempts before they are able to quit permanently,” she said.

“If you are looking to quit, there is no better day for it than today. Make an appointment to see your rural doctor because there are medications and nicotine-replacement therapies that can help in many cases.

“(To coincide with) World No Tobacco Day, we want to see every smoker try to kick the habit and we are here to support you.

“Quitting without professional help is far less likely to succeed than with it, so make use of both the personal support from friends and family, but combine this with assistance from your doctor to give you the best shot at success.

“And remember, for most people, quitting permanently takes multiple attempts, so in the meantime every cigarette you don’t smoke is a win!”