New “sounds like it's time to quit smoking” campaign aims to address smoking-caused diseases in the regions

Cancer Council WA has launched the ‘Sounds Like it’s time to quit smoking’ Campaign in an effort to prompt Great Southern residents to listen to the damage smoking causes to their bodies.

The campaign that will run as a TV advertisement will appear on metropolitan and regional TV stations.

The campaign focuses on the consequences of smoking including wheezing, coughing, breathlessness and gum disease.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s latest burden of disease study found that tobacco use was the leading risk factor for disease burden and contributed the most to fatal burden, with almost 20,500 attributable deaths (13 per cent of all deaths) in 2018.

“Our Make Smoking History team worked closely with Gatecrasher Advertising to produce a campaign that shows the relatable and early health impacts of smoking,” Cancer Council WA Great Southern regional education officer Bruce Beamish said.

“The graphic campaign depicts the common consequences impacting a smoker’s quality of life including wheezing, coughing and breathlessness, so people who smoke may be all too familiar with the sounds they hear in these advertisements.

“The aim of the campaign is to prompt people in the Great Southern who smoke to stop and listen to the effects smoking is having on their bodies, so they can make the most of life.”

Mr Beamish said tobacco control has had many successes over the past two decades, but smoking remains a public health crisis.

“Approximately one in 10 West Australians still smoke,” he said.

“Smoking is a main cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is a group of lung diseases that cause a shortness of breath, increased production of phlegm/mucus and persistent cough.

“At first, a person might become breathless from walking up a slight hill, but in the later stages, people can become too breathless to get themselves dressed in the morning.

“Smoking cessation is the most important intervention to prevent the worsening of COPD.

“Quitting smoking is one of the best actions you can take for your health and quality of life. People will recognise these sounds and signs in their own bodies, and we hope it will prompt them to visit our website to start their quitting journey.”