Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) NZTuesday 29 June 2010, 9:31AM
Media release from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)
NZ
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is welcoming the announcement by
Corrections Minister Judith Collins on a smoking ban for
prisons.
ASH is urging for support for prisoners to quit smoking, including
access to a full range of smoking cessation nicotine replacement
therapy (NRT) so smokers do not have to quit cold turkey.
At the moment prisoners are offered the standard eight-week course
of NRT patches.
ASH director Ben Youdan would like to see levels of support "beefed
up" given that the prison population smoking rate is estimated at
over 65 per cent compared to the general population's smoking rate
of around 21 per cent.
"Second hand smoke is a danger for both the workplace and in
home-like environments. The Department of Corrections has 12 months
to plan on how to offer smoking cessation support."
"This move is consistent with what is happening in other countries,
including Australia and the UK. It is also consistent with all
other workplaces that are required to be smokefree and also with
other state run institutions, including mental health
facilities."
"It is important for prisoners to have access to trained smoking
cessation providers and NRT including patches and lozenges to help
manage withdrawal symptoms," said Mr Youdan.