This year, kiwis are being motivated to quit smoking.
There have been countless studies related to the danger of smoking, with many campaigns highlighting how it can negatively affect health and well-being. Legislative changes have affected how cigarettes are sold, marketed and advertised, and a commitment to reduce smoking in the country to less than five percent of the population by 2025.
While there’s been an apparent reduction in these numbers over the last few years, people are still smoking because it can be challenging to break a habit.
On May 31st, World No Tobacco Day aims to encourage existing smokers to quit. AIA research into the harm smoking causes has identified that lifestyle habits can cause five of the most common non-communicable diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and respiratory disease, which comprise more than 90 percent of deaths in New Zealand.
Reducing smoking will have significant benefits across the country for all New Zealanders, from personal health benefits to the broader healthcare system burden. A healthier nation means less tobacco and less tobacco means less harm.
