Editorial: Tough ask to get a nation to stub out

It's hard to kick the habit. Photo / John Stone

Giving up cigarettes is hard work. They say it's harder to quit than heroin.

I've only ever given up one of the two and it wasn't heroin, so I don't know.

I do know that I struggled to quit smoking without the help of nicotine patches and immediate family support.

Because my willpower wasn't strong enough alone to kick the habit.

The patches worked so well, I started smoking a year later and thought "oh well, I can always give up again, last time it was easy".

I couldn't though, not initially, not even with the patches. I had underestimated the combined power of willpower, family support and nicotine patches.

Those combined factors helped me give up, not just the patches.

Another way of looking at it - I had to want to give up, even with what they call "smoking cessation aids".

This is where I feel for our health professionals who are under pressure to hit national targets aimed at reducing smokers.

An example - a 2014/15 target exists for 95 per cent of smokers admitted to hospital and 90 per cent of smokers seen by a health practitioner in primary care to be provided with cessation support. This is all leading to New Zealand being smokefree - less than 5 per cent of the population smoking - by 2025.

A new 2015/16 target has been set - smokers who are enrolled with primary health organisations and general practices will also be offered advice and cessation support.

2013 Census data showed more than 19,986 people in Northland aged 15 years and over smoked regularly (19.1 per cent). In 2006, the figure was 25.7 per cent. At a continued rate of 5 per cent every seven years, it will 2036 before we hit the 5 per cent target.

So something needs to happen. I sincerely hope the hard work of health professionals isn't stymied by a factor beyond their control.

You can lead a horse to water, but can you also make it give up smoking?