According to Health.gov.au, “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people smoke more than other Australians and are at higher risk of serious disease and death.

“Tobacco use is widespread among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples although smoking rates vary between regions and communities. Overall, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are almost 3 times more likely to smoke compared to non-Indigenous Australians.

“In 2010 we began funding programs to reduce smoking among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Since then tobacco use has substantially reduced. The proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, aged 15 years or more, who smoke daily has gradually reduced to 37% in 2018-19.

“Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples tobacco smoking is:

• the most preventable cause of ill health and early death
• responsible for around 1 in 5 deaths
• directly responsible for ⅓ of cancer and cardiovascular disease”

In response to this, DDACL has set up a number of programs to help reduce smoking in the local Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people.

If you would like to learn more, please check the links below or follow the links in the menu above.