100,000 NRT Scripts Filled to Help Australians Kick the Habit

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PDF printable version of 100,000 NRT Scripts Filled to Help Australians Kick the Habit (PDF 17 KB)

4 July 2011

Smokers around Australia have chosen to kick the habit with 100,000 scripts for subsidised nicotine patches being filled since they became available on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme (PBS) in February.

“To reach the milestone of 100,000 is great news and goes to show that Australians are trying to butt out in droves,” Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon said.

“Placing patches onto the PBS has clearly helped to make them affordable for tens of thousands of Australians who want to quit – and has the added benefit of proper support and guidance from a medical professional. Using patches as part of a smoking cessation program increases the likelihood of success.

“The chilling facts are that smoking kills 15,000 Australians a year and costs our society $31.5 billion each year. Helping people that want to quit and minimising the number of people who start smoking are key health priorities for the Gillard Government.”

Nicotine replacement therapy products can assist highly dependent smokers who are motivated to quit. They are designed to reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms while the person quitting concentrates on breaking the habit.

A twelve-week course of nicotine patches can cost over $480 without PBS subsidies. The listing of patches on the PBS means that a 12-week course can be as low as $16.80 for pensioners or $102.60 for other Australians.

“Every cigarette brings cancer closer, which is why the Gillard Government launched a hard hitting $61 million national advertising campaign in January. The campaign graphically links smoking with lung cancer and reminds smokers that a cough is the most common symptom of lung cancer.

“The link between smoking and lung cancer is well established. In Australia, smoking causes 84 per cent of new lung cancers in men and 77 per cent in women, so the message is plain: stop smoking to reduce your risk of lung cancer.

“Targeted campaigns are also underway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, young Australians and pregnant women.

“Supporting smokers to quit is part of the Gillard Government’s innovative action to reduce smoking rates in Australia including our world leading action to mandate the plain packaging of tobacco products.”

For support to quit smoking, people should consult their doctor or pharmacist, call the Quitline on 13 7848 or see the Quit Now website at: www.australia.gov.au/quitnow

For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on 02 6277 7220