Don't go up in smoke

Smokers are being reminded they will be saving more than their lives if they kick the nicotine habit this year - they'll also be saving a sizeable amount of cash.
Quitting smoking is one of the most popular, and most broken, of New Year's resolutions.
Smokefree co-ordinator Bridget Rowse hopes the 10 per cent tobacco tax hike that kicked in on January 1 will help those wanting to give up.
The price of cheaper brands is expected to rise from about $14.60 for a packet of 25, to more than $16.
Ms Rowse, from Northland District Health Board, said it was getting more expensive to smoke but with people able to get subsidised medication, it's never been cheaper to quit.
At the beginning of the month, the price of cigarettes and loose tobacco went up by another 10 per cent as the second of the Government's three scheduled tobacco tax increases took effect.
Tobacco tax will rise another 10 per cent on January 1 next year.
Ms Rowse is urging smokers to beat the price increase and consider quitting this summer.
"The cost of smoking is going up, but the cost of quitting hasn't changed. So if you give up now, you'll be saving money and you might just be saving your life as one in two smokers will die as a result of their smoking," she said.
Ms Rowse said for $3 smokers could get hold of an eight-week supply of nicotine gum, patches or lozenges from Quitline or any health professional.
"At $3 for a month's supply, the patches, gum and lozenges are among the cheapest in the world.
"They'll take the edge off your cravings and make you more likely to stay quit - you'll double your chances for less than a quarter the cost of a packet of smokes," she said.
"It's never been cheaper to quit. If you've been thinking of giving up, get hold of a prescription or Quitcard and set a quit date.
"The gum, lozenges and patches are designed to take the edge off the cravings so you can focus on building new habits and routines."
To get help to stop smoking, talk to a health provider, Aukati Kai Paipa quit coach, call Quitline on 0800 778 778 or visit www.quit.org.nz.
People wanting quitting support by text message can sign up with the Txt2Quit service by texting "quit" to 3111 (it's free).

THAT'S A FACT

* About one in five (19.9 per cent) of  New Zealand adults smoke - 21.1 per cent of men and 18.8 per cent of women.
* Maori make up 40.4 per cent of the total.
* More than a third  (35.4 per cent) of New Zealand adults have never tried smoking - 30.1 per cent of men and 40.3 per cent of women.
* Many New Zealand smokers begin  before they are 14.6 years old.
* A total of 12.8 per cent of people aged  14 and 15 are regular smokers - 10.6 per cent among boys and 14.9 per cent among girls.
* The Government spends about $55 million on tobacco control.
* Smoking cessation programmes, including nicotine replacement therapy, takes $32 million.
* Health promotion, which includes  campaigns to encourage smokers to quit, cost $15.2 million.
* Monitoring and evaluation takes  $850,000.
* Smokefree DHBs account for $7 million.

10 TIPS TO QUIT
* Believe you can quit smoking - and have a clear idea of why you want to stop.
* Create a plan. How will you get through the times when you'd usually reach for a cigarette?
* Set a quit date.
* Talk to your doctor and find out what resources are available.
* Tell family and friends what you are doing so they will support you.
* Start an exercise regime. It will give you something to focus on - and heavy smoking and exercise do not co-exist  well.
* Try to find someone else who is trying to quit and do it with them.
* Know your triggers. For example, do  you want to smoke when you are stressed or nervous?
* Don't think of it as forever if that's too hard - don't smoke for one week, then another month, then another month.
* Drink water. That will help flush out the toxins and nicotine more quickly.