Cigarette 'shock packs' a must for Australia - AMA

AMA President, Dr Kerryn Phelps, said today that despite the strong warnings currently on cigarette packs too many Australians continue to smoke and, worse, a large number of people are still taking up the habit for the first time.

"Many people, mainly young adults and teenagers, continue to be lured to smoking by positive images and attractive people smoking in movies, magazines, and on television," Dr Phelps said.

"For schoolkids, the current heavy warnings on cigarette packets can sometimes be taken as a 'dare' or a challenge. Stronger warnings are now needed.

"There still exists the 'invulnerability' mentality - the belief that lung cancer and other smoking-related diseases will always hit somebody else.

"More vivid images of the physical horrors of smoking will go a long way towards breaking down and eliminating the 'dare' and 'invulnerable' mindsets of young smokers.

"The 'shock pack' images would help concentrate the thoughts of more mature and longer term smokers on the irreversible harm they are doing to their bodies," Dr Phelps said.

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Australia, with more than 19,000 deaths a year and at an annual cost to the community of around $13 billion and rising.

Most common causes of smoking-related death in Australia are cancer (lung and other organs), ischaemic heart disease (blockage of blood vessels to the heart), and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (obstructions to permanent airflow in the body).

Dr Phelps said that doctors see the preventable damage that smoking inflicts on human bodies, young and old, every day.

"Smoking is not hip or fashionable, it is a killer," Dr Phelps said.

"I look forward to the Health Minister consulting with the AMA for expert advice on the introduction of cigarette 'shock packs' to Australia."

CONTACT: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761

Sarah Bucknell (02) 6270 5472 / (0419) 440 076