Smoking rates fall nationally, but not in the Territory

Here in the NT more than half of all Indigenous people smoke.

A survey released yesterday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows sustained improvement in the national smoking rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

It also shows young Indigenous kids are not taking up the habit in bigger numbers than ever before.

Unfortunately most of those figures are for non-remote areas.

In remote areas, the number of smokers is as bad as they were six years ago.

The Territory remains the worst performing jurisdiction, with the highest daily smoking prevalence rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (50 per cent of those 18 and over).

A report released earlier in the year revealed people living in the Territory were 2.6 times more likely to be dying early or dealing with disease from smoking than wealthier parts of Australia.

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey found that the national daily smoking rate (aged 15 and over) has decreased to 37 per cent, down from 42 per cent six years ago.

Professor David Thomas, head of Menzies School of Health Research tobacco control research program, has welcomed this new evidence.

"The results demonstrate that sustained improvements are achievable and happening now, and that continued investment is justified both by the Australian Government in the Tackling Indigenous Smoking program and by all governments in tobacco control" Professor Thomas said.

"The findings also show increasing numbers of young Indigenous people (aged 15 - 17) are not taking up smoking, both in remote and non-remote areas."

Nationally, 85 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the age group have never smoked. This is an increase from 77 per cent six years ago.

"Unfortunately, the other improvements have not been uniform. As with previous ABS surveys, we have seen strong improvements in non-remote areas but few improvements in remote areas" Professor Thomas said.

In non-remote areas, daily smoking prevalence fell to 35 per cent (down from 39 per cent six years ago) but in remote areas daily smoking prevalence has remained largely unchanged at 49 per cent.

The NT remains the worst performing jurisdiction, with the highest daily smoking prevalence rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (50 per cent of those 18 and over).

"Clearly, more needs to be done by the Northern Territory Government to help Indigenous Territorians, especially those in remote areas, to successfully quit" Professor Thomas said.

While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each Friday at 6am from the Katherine Times. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, sign up here.