Queensland Health

There is strong community support HOW TO QUIT for smoke-free public places To improve your chance of quitting smoking for Under Queensland’s tobacco laws, the following good, it is a good idea to plan ahead. places are smoke-free: You may find these tips helpful: • inside public venues, such as workplaces, offices, hotels, clubs and restaurants • Get support. Quitline’s trained counsellors are • commercial outdoor eating or drinking venues available seven days a week to help you through the process of quitting—call Quitline 13 QUIT • within 10 metres of children’s playground (13 7848) for free information, practical equipment assistance and support. • within four metres of non-residential building entrances • Talk to your health professional. Discuss • between the flags on patrolled beaches quitting smoking with a general practitioner (GP), pharmacist or community health worker, Passive • at major sporting stadium and plan your quit strategy together. • in motor vehicles carrying children under the age of 16 years • Consider using pharmacotherapy. Different smoking products are available to help you quit smoking. • at all public and private health facilities and Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) includes all state and non-state schools, and for five metres beyond their boundaries. patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers and mouth spray. The aim of NRT products is to replace For further information on Queensland’s tobacco some of the nicotine from cigarettes without laws, visit the Queensland Health website or call the harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke, the Queensland Government call centre on thus reducing withdrawal symptoms, such 13 QGOV (13 7468). as cravings and anxiety. Bupropion Hcl and Varenicline are non-nicotine medications that Reference: are also effective in helping smokers to quit. 1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Health Bupropion Hcl and Varenicline are available only Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A on prescription and your GP can help decide if Report of the Surgeon General. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, they are suitable for you. National Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2006.

Further information Text reproduced and adapted with the permission of Quit, www.qld.gov.au/health/staying-healthy/atods/smoking the Victorian Smoking and Health program, Australia. QH376 11/14 QH376 Smokers not only What are the health effects of passive What about passive smoking and smoking? babies? put themselves at Tobacco smoke contains more than 7000 Young children are very susceptible to the health effects risk of serious health chemicals—at least 70 of which are known to cause of tobacco smoke because they have smaller and more cancer. Non-smokers with long term exposure to delicate lungs than adults, and their immune systems problems, they also tobacco smoke have up to a 20–30 per cent higher are still developing. Children with parents who smoke risk of developing lung cancer when compared with record nicotine levels the same as if they were actually put the people around non-smokers who have not been exposed. smoking up to 150 cigarettes per year, and breathe in many of the same cancer-causing chemicals. them at risk of the The more time non-smokers spend exposed to tobacco smoke, the worse the risk to their overall Babies and children exposed to tobacco smoke are at toxic chemicals in health. serious risk of: tobacco smoke. Evidence about the dangers of passive smoking • sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) continues to mount, with a recent U.S. Surgeon • bronchitis, pneumonia and other lung or airway General’s report confirming that there is no safe infections level of exposure to tobacco smoke, and that passive • respiratory symptoms, such as coughing and What is passive smoking? 1 smoking is related to many adverse health effects . wheezing The process of smoking produces three different Passive smoking causes lung cancer and coronary types of tobacco smoke: • middle ear disease (glue ear) heart disease in adults. • asthma. 1. Mainstream smoke—smoke directly inhaled by It has also been suggested that passive smoking the smoker through a burning cigarette. Having cigarettes around the home also exposes may cause: children to danger. A baby or child who eats a cigarette, 2. Exhaled mainstream smoke—smoke breathed • breast cancer or even just a cigarette butt, can become very sick. out by the smoker. • nasal sinus cancer Cigarettes and cigarette ash can inflict burns and eye 3. Sidestream smoke—smoke which drifts from injuries, and lighters and matches may cause serious • stroke the burning end of a cigarette. injuries as well. • acute and chronic respiratory symptoms Passive smoking—sometimes referred to as second-hand smoke—is the inhalation of exhaled • onset of asthma and worsening of asthma Make your home smoke-free mainstream smoke and sidestream smoke. • respiratory symptoms, such as coughing and wheezing The risk of a non-smoker developing a disease related to passive smoking rises with the number of smoking • pre-term delivery. Passive smoking is a proven household members and their overall exposure to health hazard with more In addition, some effects of passive smoking are tobacco smoke. Smoking in another room of the house, immediate, including: or opening a window, does not eliminate the exposure of than 600 published medical • eye and nose irritation non-smokers to tobacco smoke. reports linking passive • sore throat Consider making your home smoke-free—this means that people who live in the home, or visitors to the home, can • cough. smoking to diseases. only smoke outside, away from doors and windows.