The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has urged the federal Government to set ambitious goals and act decisively to reduce tobacco use across the nation.
It comes following the college’s submission to the Government’s draft National Tobacco Strategy 2022-2030 (“the Strategy”).
The RACGP has recommended the federal Government devise a robust Strategy featuring:
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an ambitious target of zero uptake of tobacco use given the uptake of smoking in children and adolescents remains a considerable public health challenge
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a targeted approach for different populations, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other high-risk groups, to help achieve lower smoking rates
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more clearly documented restrictions on tobacco lobbying to encompass all nicotine containing products and a recommendation that all political parties reject Big Tobacco donations and refrain from meetings with any tobacco lobbyists.
The Australian National University will today publish research commissioned by the Health Department that found vaping ‘‘is causing addiction in a new generation of users'' and makes young people three times more likely to take up cigarette smoking.
RACGP President Professor Karen Price said that the Government must set the bar high.
“Smoking rates have fallen significantly in Australia over many years, but there is no point resting on our laurels - let’s aim even higher,” she said.
“We need to consider how to best reach those groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who are using tobacco at higher rates compared to the rest of the population. Let’s be bold, think creatively, and consider all options. I think part of the answer here lies in culturally appropriate resources to really zero in on populations who have been left behind in the general population decline in smoking prevalence.
“The RACGP also strongly supports funding programs for and by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, noting that funding appears to have declined where it is needed most.”
Professor Price said that the Strategy must take a robust approach to donations and lobbying.
“Big Tobacco will try any means to influence policy-makers and we can’t let them get away with it,” she said.
“It’s great news that the Australian Labor Party and Liberal Party of Australia no longer accept donations from tobacco companies, and the Greens have a long-standing policy of not accepting tobacco company donations. Let’s go a step further and encourage the National Party in the strongest possible terms to follow suit and urge all independents and minor parties to also have a blanket policy of not accepting Big Tobacco donations.
“The Strategy should also staunchly recommend against any politicians, and their staff, from meeting with any tobacco company lobbyists. Gaining access to politicians and their staff is not something that these companies deserve given the immense harm they cause to the public year on year.
“It’s easy to forget how far we have come in terms of tobacco control. It wasn’t until 1990 that advertising of tobacco products in newspapers and magazines came into effect and many of us will have memories of major sporting events featuring cigarette sponsorship including the rugby league ‘Winfield Cup’. However, let’s go even further and restrict the lobbying Big Tobacco can do behind closed doors out of the public eye.
“It’s vital that the Government also keeps a close eye on nicotine marketing tactics in the years to come. That includes strengthening research, monitoring and surveillance activities for the marketing and use of novel and emerging nicotine delivery and use products. Big Tobacco is nothing short of inventive when it comes to ways of finding new customers and we must be alert to that.
“If we don’t strengthen regulatory options around nicotine marketing and remain mindful of new tactics being deployed by these companies, we will be fighting a losing battle. For example, the Government must do everything possible to target marketing by social media ‘influencers’ on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.”
The RACGP President said the Strategy must have a strong focus on youth.
“If we can stop new generations of people taking up tobacco use that is a huge public health win,” she said.
“If someone has been smoking cigarettes for decades it can prove challenging, but not impossible, to help them quit. If we can stop people taking up the habit in the first place, it makes the task of health professionals tackling tobacco use that much easier.
“We know that e-cigarettes are a particularly attractive option for young people, including school-age children. Flavoured e-cigarettes, for example, really appeal to younger people and the concern is that they will then develop a life-long tobacco use habit. Big Tobacco will use any means necessary to lure in new users and that includes younger people who see vaping as aesthetically appealing.
“That is why we need targeted early intervention and education for school children, including the development and implementation of additional measures to further restrict the marketing and availability of all e-cigarettes, regardless of their nicotine content. There needs to be a comprehensive national regulatory framework, not a piecemeal state-by-state and territory approach.”
The RACGP is a strong advocate for smoking cessation and supports our members to undertake smoking cessation consultations. Our Supporting smoking cessation: A guide for health professionals guideline includes the latest recommendations and information on smoking cessation.
The RACGP was selected as one of the recipients of the 2020 World No Tobacco Day awards for our valuable work including the release of new Smoking Cessation Guidelines 2020.