Failing those who most need support to quit smoking: Australia must do better

Objective Tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death in Australia, and although overall smoking has declined, rates remain much higher among disadvantaged populations. Thus, those most likely to be nicotine dependent are least able to afford cessation treatment. With strict limitations on duration of treatment and the range of products currently subsidised through the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, Australian Federal Government spending on tobacco addiction treatment falls well short of levels recommended by the World Health Organization, and best-practice interventions are not affordable for many patients. This is in stark contrast to far less prevalent addictions (e.g. heroin and opioids), for which people can receive heavily subsidised treatment for many years. Much greater investment in effective tobacco dependence treatments that is commensurate with the ongoing scale of harm caused by tobacco use would help the Australian Federal Government to meet its commitments to support Australians who smoke to quit, especially those belonging to disadvantaged population groups.

Setting Australia.

Conclusion The cost and access barriers to effective and cost-effective Therapeutic Goods Administration-approved tobacco dependence treatment are far too high in Australia, disproportionately impacting population groups that have higher smoking rates, but are least able to afford the out-of-pocket costs. The ongoing enormity of harm caused by tobacco use, tobacco users’ large contribution to taxation revenue, and the relative unaffordability of smoking cessation medications highlight the imperative for much greater government investment in making effective tobacco dependence treatments more accessible and affordable.