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The Cost of Smoking

December 2010

It’s getting more and more expensive to smoke but it’s never been cheaper to quit.

This is the message from the Counties Manukau District Health Board’s (CMDHB) Smokefree team ahead of the New Year, when smoking will become an even more expensive addiction.

From 1 January 2011, the price of cigarettes and loose tobacco will go up another 10% as the second of three scheduled tobacco tax increases takes effect.

By comparison, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (patches, lozenges and gum), are available for just $3 each for an eight week supply and can double your chances of quitting successfully.

Ingrid Minett, Smokefree Programme Manager at the CMDHB, is urging everyone who smokes to beat the price increase and consider quitting this summer.

“The cost of smoking is going up but the cost of quitting hasn’t changed. So if you stop smoking now, you’ll be saving money. You might also be saving your life as one in two people who smoke will die as a result of their smoking.”

Approximately 82,000 people smoke in Counties Manukau and about 5000 New Zealanders die each year as a result of tobacco. Smoking continues to be the number one preventable cause of death, disease and disability in New Zealand.

For just $3, people can get hold of an eight week supply of the gum, patches or lozenges at any time from Quitline or from any health professional such as a doctor or nurse.

“They’ll take the edge off your cravings and make you more likely to stay smokefree. At just $3 each, you’ll also double your chances of quitting smoking for good,” Mrs Minett explains.

Patches, gum and lozenges lessen the effect of nicotine cravings so you can focus on building new routines without distractions. They provide enough nicotine to manage cravings without exposing you to the other 4000+ chemicals found in cigarettes which can lead to cancer.

  • Being smokefree is supported by the CMDHB’s Creating a Better Future strategy. For more information visit www.betterfuture.co.nz, call Quitline free on 0800 778 778 or visit www.quit.org.nz.