The Territory Government has released its plan to improvethe health of all Territorians by reducing the harm caused by tobaccoconsumption and exposure to tobacco smoke, and to prevent uptake by youngpeople.
The release of the Northern Territory Tobacco ActionPlan 2019-2023 coincides with World No-Tobacco Day.
Key targetgroups are pregnant women and their families, children and young people, peoplewith mental illness and people released from NT Prisons.
The NorthernTerritory Tobacco Action Plan 2019-2023 was developed by the NT Tobacco ControlAction Committee (NTTCAC) comprising the Heart Foundation, Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT, GoodHealth Alliance, Local Government Association, Remote AOD Workforce and theDepartments of Health, Education, and Attorney Generals & JusticeCorrections with Menzies School of Health Tobacco Control Research Program.
The NTTCACwill oversee the implementation of the Plan.
Key focusareas are:
media campaigns to de-normalisesmoking and promote positive role models,
increasing smoke free spaces inhomes, workplaces and public settings,
and helping to sustain quit attemptsand prevent relapse.
The Tobacco Action Plan can be found at: https://digitallibrary.health.nt.gov.au/prodjspui/bitstream/10137/7581/1/Tobacco%20action%20plan.pdf
As stated by Ministerfor Health, Natasha Fyles:
While NTtobacco consumption rates are reducing, historically the Northern Territory hasand continues to have the highest rate of smoking per capita in Australia.
This TobaccoAction Plan supports ongoing efforts to reduce this prevalence.
As stated by Chair NorthernTerritory Tobacco Control Action Committee (NTTCAC), Professor David Thomas:
A feature of this ActionPlan is its focus on some of the most disadvantaged groups in our society. Manyof these groups have much higher rates of smoking than the general population.Special emphasis is placed on reducing harm for Aboriginal Territorians, whosuffer the greatest burden from tobacco use.
These actionswill benefit Territorians by reducing the incidence of smoking related harms,increasing public amenity by expanding smoke-free areas, and reducing adverseimpacts and costs related to illnesses caused by smoking.
