Fewer daily smokers, but black market battle rages on
Daily smoking rates have halved since 2001, but illicit tobacco use has surged, threatening Australia's public health progress.Summary
Terry Fulton, a former heavy smoker, quit after a 2023 stroke, illustrating a broader trend where daily smoking has halved since 2001. While Australia is on track to meet its 2030 target of five percent daily smokers, experts warn that the black market is undermining this success. More than one in three smokers have purchased illicit tobacco in the past three years, with cheap products driving the surge. Data shows nicotine consumption has risen 40 percent, likely due to concentrated products from the black market. Conversely, daily e-cigarette use has remained stable, and young adult vaping has declined, suggesting some progress in reducing harmful habits. However, advocates stress that more must be done to crack down on illicit dealers to protect public health.
(Source：Perthnow)
