By Laura Michell
Brimbank and Melton have the highest smoking rates in the west, new data reveals.
Victoria University’s health policy think tank, the Mitchell Institute, has released new figures revealing daily smoking rates across Australia.
In Brimbank and Melton, more than 17 per cent of adults are daily smokers.
Brimbank is home to 26,921 daily smokers, while 17.690 people engage in the habit in Melton.
Hobsons Bay has a daily smoking rate of 16 per cent, while Wyndham and Maribyrnong’s smoking rates are at 15 per cent.
Nationally, 14 per cent of adults smoke daily.
The institute said national smoking rates have been on a steady decline since its peak in the 1970s when almost three quarters of Australian men and one quarter of women smoked.
Mitchell Institute health policy lead, Ben Harris said the local smoking rates were troubling.
“We need to target and redouble our efforts to facilitate opportunities for people to quit,” he said.
“We know that local factors are influencing the smoking rates. Where we live, where we work, when we left school, and who we know influences smoking.
“We also know that the best way to stop children picking up the habit is to help the adults around them quit smoking.”
Mr Harris said governments needed to better target their advertising and health services budgets to communities where smoking rates remained high.
“We know the Quit smoking messages, combined with information on packaging about disease caused by smoking is very effective in encouraging people to quit. Using local approaches and local knowledge could help make sure that all Australians are given the best opportunity to quit smoking and improve their health and wellbeing.”
