Author: ASH Ireland

ASH Ireland, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and the TobaccoFree Research Institute Ireland will hold a business breakfast and academic seminar on Monday, 24^th March 2014 to mark the 10^th anniversary of the introduction of the workplace smoking legislation in Ireland.  These events will take place at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland Building at Number 6, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

Minister for Health, James Reilly will address the business breakfast at 8.30 a.m.  Today we announce the full line-up of speakers for the academic seminar as follows:

Note to Editors

1. A Press Conference at 9.30 a.m. will include Minister James Reilly, and representatives from ASH Ireland, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and the TobaccoFree Research Institute Ireland.
2. Press statement and extracts from all speakers will be available and issued on the day.
3. All of the seminar presenters and other spokespeople will be available for media interviews.

ENDS

Media Enquiries: 

Siobhán Creaton, Communications Manager Royal College of Physicians of Ireland:

01 8639732 | Mobile 085 8722109 | Email siobhancreaton@rcpi.ie

ASH Ireland:  0818-305055; Email  info@ash.ie

Mr Wally Young, Public Relations Advisor:  087 2471520

As we approach ASH Wednesday – a time when many smokers will be attempting to quit; it may be a time to highlight the annual financial cost of smoking to the individual smoker. The 20 a day smoker will spend close to €3,500 annually on cigarettes. This is a significant cost which most smokers would definitely wish to avoid. The 20 a day smoker can expect to spend close to €200,000 on cigarettes in the course of a lifetime.

Dr Ross Morgan, Chairman of ASH Ireland said today, “Ash Wednesday is the day chosen by many people to quit smoking. We encourage all smokers to realise that quitting is possible, and for most success will not be achieved at the first attempt. The main benefits to the person who quits smoking are in the area of health – and these benefits emerge very soon after quitting. There are also the financial considerations; the 20 a day smoker will spend roughly €3,500 annually on cigarettes. Much of this cost is on taxes and the remainder enhances the profits of the tobacco industry. I encourage smokers, the vast majority who want to quit, to consider quitting – and this is a good time to make that key decision”.

The national smokers Quitline can be contacted on 1800 201 203.

Various items of research shows that up to 70% of smokers wish to quit at any given time. Despite the well-established addiction to nicotine, many smokers quit each year. The key to quitting is the personal decision to quit. We advise people to seek the assistance of their GP, the support of family and friends and to consider the use various nicotine replacement therapies, which are now available.

The established smoker smokes to satisfy an addiction and in doing so contributes to the massive profits of the tobacco industry, who themselves are well aware of the addiction versus profit connection.

Dr Morgan concluded by saying, “If the smoker can make that key decision to quit and break the link with the addiction to nicotine, both health and financial benefits will quickly follow”.

Ends

For contact:

ASH Ireland 0818 305055

Wally Young, Young Communications – 087 2471520

ASH Ireland, in conjunction with the Royal College of Physicians Ireland and TobaccoFree Research Institute Ireland will organise a seminar marking the 10th anniversary of the introduction of Ireland’s ground-breaking workplace smoking legislation in the RCPI on Monday, 24th March 2014.

Further queries to: ASH Ireland on 0818-305055.

This week marks the 50th anniversary (11 Jan 1964) of the publication of the Surgeon General’s Report in the United States which officially highlighted, for the first time, the most serious health consequences associated with smoking.  An update to the original report will be released in the United States today.

The publication of the report received headlines all over the world, not just in the United States – and Surgeon General Luther L Terry said some 20 years later that the report “hit the country like a bombshell.  It was a front page news and a lead story on every radio and television station in the United States and abroad”.

Dr Ross Morgan, Chairman of ASH Ireland said today, “The key findings of the report, none of which have been challenged or contradicted, estimated that the average smoker had a 9 to 10 fold risk of developing lung cancer, compared to non-smokers, and that heavy smokers had at least a 20 fold risk.

The report went on to state that the risk of developing lung cancer rose with duration of smoking and diminished with the cessation of smoking.  The report named smoking as the most important cause of chronic bronchitis and also stated that there was a link between smoking and emphysema and smoking and coronary heart disease. The report also referred to the reduced average weight of new born babies, born to mothers who smoked.  Interestingly, it did not state that smoking was addictive, however, this is a matter that was later clarified by medical research and laterally, after much debate, by the Tobacco Industry itself.  One notable quote contained in Tobacco Industry documentation discovered during litigation in the United States said nicotine is addictive; “Moreover, nicotine is addictive. We are, then, in the business of selling nicotine, an addictive drug effective in the release of stress mechanisms.” July 17, 1963 report by then Brown & Williamson general counsel/vice president Addison Yeaman, Bates

Dr Ross Morgan went on to say, “This ground breaking report not only provided new and irrefutable medical evidence on the harm caused by smoking, but also commenced an informed public debate on smoking which thankfully is ongoing.  As early as 1968 a major survey in the United States highlighted the impact of the Terry report.  In 1958, only 44% of Americans believed that smoking caused cancer, while in 1968, 4 years after the report was published, 78% believed that smoking was a cause of cancer. The Terry report also led to almost immediate action by the US government, when in 1965 Congress required that all cigarette packs distributed should carry a health warning and this commenced the introduction of health warnings on cigarettes on a worldwide basis.  It is interesting that today we are rightly looking at the introduction of standardised packaging and graphic health warnings as the Tobacco Industry continue to use the design of the cigarette pack, as a way of marketing to young people and developing confusion with the use of colours, and slogans, in regard to the notion of there being a safer cigarette.”

Dr Morgan went on to say “All of us in the health sector, and indeed the wider population are indebted to the courage and determination of Dr Luther Terry.  He assembled a group of medical experts to assist him with his work and despite having to include the Tobacco Industry on his advisory committee, he courageously acknowledged, verified and published information which has saved thousands of lives on virtually every country on the planet.

It is important that we remember the work and courage of Dr Terry by continuing to state the facts about smoking and to inform the smoker and the potential smoker that if you smoke you will most likely die because of this, quite apart from the significant illness issues which emerge at one time or another for virtually every smoker.  Tragically 5,200 people die in this country every year from tobacco related disease so there is still much to be done in the fight against tobacco and nicotine addiction”.

ENDS

For contact: ASH Ireland:  0818-305055

Wally Young, Young Communications:  087-2471520

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An article published today in the ‘New England Journal of Medicine’ raises some vitally important issues in regard to smoking, which cannot be ignored. This article again, which is based on independent research, finds that tripling world-wide taxes on tobacco would cut smoking levels by one third and prevent over 200 million premature deaths this century. This research again confirms that price increase is the most significant factor in encouraging people to quit and deterring young people from experimenting with tobacco.

Dr Ross Morgan, Chairperson of ASH Ireland said today “this research highlights the importance of governments using taxation and related price increase as a way of encouraging people to quit. Based on this study, it does seem that smoking prevalence in Ireland could be reduced to approximately 14% of the population if significant price increases were introduced. This reduction in smoking prevalence would also have a significant impact on the massive expenditure on smoking related disease in this country; estimated to be in excess of €1 billion per annum”.

It is interesting to note that the research published today finds that the international Tobacco Industry makes approximately €36 billion in profits each year, which is approximately €9,000 for each smoking related death.

Dr Morgan went on to say “at present roughly half a billion children and adults worldwide under the age of 35 are smokers and it is dreadful to think that up to 50% of these will die prematurely or have serious health issues because of their smoking. As smoking is so addictive many people will find it difficult to quit once they commence the habit – and as a consequence they become a contributor to Tobacco Industry profits for the remainder of their lives.”

Regretfully over 5,200 people die in this country each year because they smoke and it is imperative that the government uses every possible tool to encourage these people to quit. The research published today shows that smokers who quit before the age of 40 reduce their risk of dying from the effects of tobacco use by up to 90%.

Published article available to download from http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra1308383

ENDS

For contact: ASH Ireland: 0818-305055

Wally Young, Young Communications: 087-2471520

ASH Ireland is very disappointed the Government has increased the price of cigarettes by a mere 10 cents in the budget. Price is recognised by the W.H.O. and others as the most important way of encouraging smokers to quit and discouraging young people from experimenting with tobacco. The concerns being raised about ‘smuggling and price increase’ are misguided and mainly fuelled by the tobacco industry. Smuggling must be tackled as a separate and very serious criminal issue; however, it should not impinge on health policy and related decisions.

Dr Ross Morgan, Chairman of ASH Ireland said today, “Tobacco smuggling must be tackled before the market is flooded with cheap cigarettes and a consequent increase in smoking and tobacco related illness. The current cost to the state of treating tobacco related disease annually is well over €1 billion euro. This will increase if prevalence, which has been reduced to 21.7%, is allowed to rise again.

Dr Morgan went on to say, “Smuggling of tobacco into this country has now reached major proportions and must be tackled head on by the government. 13% of cigarettes smoked in this country are non-duty paid; the loss in revenue to the exchequer is over €400 million per annum. Smuggling increases consumption and addiction and therefore is of long-term benefit to the tobacco industry. There are many examples of jurisdictions where tobacco price has been increased for health reasons and smuggling simultaneously tackled and reduced – such as Australia, New Zealand and Spain”.

ASH Ireland is disappointed that VAT has not been reduced on nicotine replacement patches and that a 50 cents environmental levy was not introduced on the tobacco industry for each pack of cigarettes sold in this jurisdiction, both of which could have been incorporated in the Budget Statement.

“I ask the Government to continue the fight against smoking, especially with such initiatives as the introduction of plain packaging and the banning of smoking in cars transporting children. Over 5,200 of our citizens die each year from smoking, and we must reduce this dreadful statistic by de-normalising smoking, educating young people and adults on the risks and above all introducing pro-health legislation”, Dr Morgan said.

ENDS

Further information contact:

ASH Ireland, 0818 305055

Wally Young, Young Communications, 087 2471520