Smoking ‘biggest factor’ in Aboriginal deaths
Smoking is the single biggest factor responsible for the gap between the health of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, says a Northern Territory expert on preventable chronic diseases.
Dr David Thomas from the Darwin-based Menzies School of Health Research is a keynote speaker at a national conference on chronic diseases in Darwin today.
Dr Thomas says one in five Aboriginal deaths in Australia is linked to smoking.
“Smoking is the biggest single risk factor for Indigenous disease, for Indigenous deaths and for the gap between Indigenous and other Australians,” he said.
He welcomes a planned ban on smoking in Territory pubs and clubs from January next year, but he says more can be done.
“Smoke free pubs and clubs is one,” he said.
“But smoke free cars, cars carrying children is another.
“Reducing the promotion of cigarettes by those sort of big lolly walls behind the cash register every time you go into a supermarket is another.”
Copyright © 2009 Abc
