If the Government was really serious about people not smoking, they would be putting all the taxes and revenue raised by the exorbitant amount they collect from smokers into subsidising any program or medication (nicorette patches, zyban, champix etc) that will assist smokers to live smoke free.
They would not need any extra taxes as they have already been paid for by the smokers themselves. Obviously they don't subsidise it because they would loose too much easy revenue (relying on people's addictions). The cost of these drugs to assist a smoker to give up should at least be available on the PBS prescriptions.
By them not being under the PBS government subsidised prescription scheme, can only mean one or two things:
Well that is my gripe in the government's quit smoking campaign! Put our money where your mouth is! so as to speak
Smoodie,
You may well have a valid point but I wonder if the taxes collected are enough to cover all the additional costs to the health system incurred due to the effects of smoking. Also if someone is on a program or medication to stop them smoking then they money they save on buying cigarettes can offset the cost of these medications. theres a lot of very expensive medications for valid medication conditions (not addictions) that need to be covered under PBS before these types of medications.
My biggest gripe is smoking is a choice you make and if you can afford to smoke you can afford quit it ! I come in contact with a lot of "strugglers" in my line of work who are doing it tough and find it hard to make ends meet from social security payment to payment but 90% always have cigarettes.
Its the smoker know needs to get serious about quitting.
I seriously doubt the government wants us to give us smoking.
Why because the government has a even bigger addiction to the TAXES made off of smokers backs.
Seriously when meds or other such things cause such terrible side effects they ban it..
What would governments do with out SMOKERS TAXES?
They fund hospitals, schools , roads, education and alike.
The government should have banned this substance long ago, l am so waiting for someone to launch action against the government over this. If it's bad and kills a judge should say ban it, but stop harrassing people that are in fact doing something that is entirely LEGAL. We have harrassment laws time to try them out here.
If they really wanted people to stop smoking as smoodieblue has stated, they should have had the meds on PBS. Better still why not make them free? All these patches etc, hell they cost way more than l smoke in a week. I'm lucky to smoke a pkt of 25 a week. Thats $10. Sorry cann't afford to pay more to stop...
Steve the govern ment is the one that needs to get serious about quitting.
As for smoking l started 40 yrs ago, not much said back then except it would stunt your growth...being taller than most around me that didn't bother me l wanted to stop growing..
Nothing about addiction etc..well when you are addicted it's to late.
The government knew and still knows this stuff is dangerous yet chooses to keep it.
They are willing to put it's people at more risk, cost the health system heaps more money..
There are too many reports and research to prove this as well as it coming out of the politians mouths. Yet they WILL NOT BAN IT!!! WHY??? People really need to be asking the GOVERNMENT to PLEASE EXPLAIN?
It's also alright to put someone down who has some form of addiction and treat them like scum rather that deal with the real propblem, If it was heroine, ice or something else the person making it available to us are seen as our dealers....they could be arrested as a way of dealing with the problem as it's illegal.
Tell me where is the difference here except smoking is legal and the government are our dealers.
Are you not suppose to help someone with a addiction, forgive me if l'm wrong but help and support not degradation and humiliation and isolation and harrass them , only makes matters worse and pushes people right back to their addiction does it not?.
Why is the government not be made accountable here? They are the only ones that can do something to stop it and DON"T AND WON"T. We didn't do it they did and are just as responsilbe for the affects smoking has on the people and the health system..
Oh and do you actually know 100% that 90% of these people smoke. Do you have them fill in a questionaire or just assume? As you appear to be doing. Doesn't sound like you are suited to the job l can already see you look down your nose at these strugglers. from your post.
Tell me about those that struggle and work, yet still smoke l notice no one says anything about that. they just assume smokers are on benifits and are fair game for people like you.
Do you drive? l don't and l'm sick off the smog where l live from it. Do you drink, oh thats right drink doesn't hurt anyone. Nor does it cost the health system lots of money, break families, is the cause of lots of domestic voilence. Our streets aren't safe at night the city isn't safe. Why because of alcolhol thats what were are told.
Time to jump on the next band wagon..
One more thing put 3 people in a closed garage with the engine running for say 2 hours..now put 3 people in a garage with a chain smoking grou for 2 hours. Can you guess which group is dead...Clue it's not the smokers!!..
Did you know a packet of Benson and Hedges 20's in Bali is $1 AUS.
Yep so true, add to that, the psych hostpitals dont allow friends and family to bring cigerettes to the inmates, but they will sell the nasty things for double the price in the kiosk.
I hate cigerettes they should just be illegal. Your right, tax the hell out of them and feed all that money into helping people get off the addiction and education.
When I'm ready
Well I am so tired of hearing people who smoke whinge about how they want to give up but cannot afford the medication to help them give up this terrible addiction.
I grew up thro the years when everyone smoked. I never even tried it because even then the smoke from my parents smoking made me ill.
My Father's sister died from gangrene, a terrible death my Father said. It was so wrong, no animal would have been allowed to suffer the way she did. Then my Mother lost a brother from gangrene same laments, they were still smoking
Every winter my mother had terrible bronchitis, this was before antibiotics as we know them now. She suffered and suiffered but still smoked. Then my Father devekoped a huge clot in his groin. It was too big to operate on, it might break and go into his lungs. He was in shocking pain with this blockage but they smoked
My Father had a slight heart attack, he then was warned his leg was losing circulation. The penny dropped on both of them, they stopped smoking cold turkey both of the at the ages of over 70. The smoking still killed my father he died of stomach cancer. It was the cigarettes before anyone argues back but they both had extra better years because they stopped. My Mother said many times she wished she had realised earlier how bad she smelt to other people. She would not let a smoker into her house after she stopped. Not temptation. She was not going to suffer that disgusting smell any more.
My daughter in law was a hairdresser. She gave up with the patches. She also said she never had realised how much her clients had suffered in silence when she attended to them after she had smoked
My husband smoked also, anything he could get his hands on a pipe, or cigarettes but he lost his favourite pipe and could not bear the idea of burning another one in and stopped, cold turkey. Never regretted it and never touched another smoke.
Do somethimng for yourselves, you know it is such a terrible habit. I have had to give up food. That is much harder we have to eat to live. I have that temptation, every day all day but for my health I have to be very careful what I eat. You can throw your cigarettes away it is a habit not an addiction. Think what attracts you to smoke. Where you are, what you are doing or going to do. It is so terribly hard to smoke anywhere, so stay where you are not allowed to smoke. Make "No Smoking" rules at home
One last comment It always used to annoy me when smoking was allowed on planes. Smokers used to go to the back of the planes to smoke and then go back and quite often sit in the non smoking areas. Sorry one more, Public Transport was a real hazard. Smoking was allowed only upstairs on the double decker buses, when you wemt up there, it was impossible to see the front of the bus for the "Smog" The smokers were all hacking and coughing in it. Smoking rooms in airports, it was impossible to see people inside because of the "smog"
Sorry you can help your selves don't be concerned about the taxes you are paying on the cigarettes, it will pay for your cancer treatment like it did for my Father and my aunts and uncles.
It was a choice,yes, but then so is drinking which is another form of drug that gets abused.But I would prefer to be in a car with someone who is smoking than someone who is drunk....The problem is that smokers get a tough break & alcoholics dont...addiction is classed as an illness too & it is...it is very hard to give up but as a smoker who does want to give up I will try most things.I just think that smokers shouldnt be the only ones who get given a hard time as there are definately other addictions that are by far worse.