The most recent data on the prevalence of smoking in Australia is available from the 2022–23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS). The rate of regular smoking (daily plus weekly) among Australian adults 18 years and older is 10%.
Recently, the Tobacco in Australia: Facts & Issues team, based at Cancer Council Victoria, reported on their analysis of the NDSHS data comparing the prevalence of regular smoking among people experiencing chronic health conditions according to their socioeconomic characteristics. Smoking rates for people experiencing chronic health conditions (diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, asthma, cancer and chronic pain) were consistently higher in those from lower socioeconomic areas. Smoking rates among those with chronic health conditions in the lowest socioeconomic areas were 1.7 to 3 times higher compared to the average rate of regular smoking of 10%.
There was a stark difference in smoking rates when comparing those in the most disadvantaged areas to the most advantaged areas. For example, 27.3% of people with asthma from the lowest socioeconomic areas smoked regularly, compared to 5.8% of those in the highest socioeconomic areas. Similarly, 30.3% of people experiencing chronic pain from the lowest socioeconomic areas smoked regularly compared to 9.1% in the highest socioeconomic areas.
These results highlight the significant impact that smoking has on health inequalities across Australia and the extent to which smoking contributes to the social gradient of health. Further, smoking adversely affects the treatment and prognosis of medical conditions. It is critical that health professionals ask all their patients if they smoke and offer cessation support. Urgent focus on those experiencing chronic medical conditions who smoke and live in lower socioeconomic areas is warranted.
Health professionals can access the Brief advice model for smoking cessation (Ask, Advise, Help) at Quit Centre.
Online training is also available that will equip health professionals with the skills, confidence and knowledge to provide cessation care with their patients.
See the graph of results