Tobacco, vaping and bush tobacco

Most of our mob know the health effects of tobacco and currently more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are non-smokers than smokers. This article provides self-care tips to keep our mob strong in mind, body and spirit.

Tips if you smoke, vape or chew quid

Sometimes we feel shame if we are not ready to quit tobacco, vaping or chewing quid. Quitting is a process and health workers will not pressure you into quitting but are there to support you.
 

Regular doctor and dentist visits

You may not notice the effects of smoking. People who smoke are more likely to lose their teeth than non-smokers. There is also a greater risk of mouth cancer, heart and lung disease, financial stress, problems with pregnancy, diabetes and coronavirus.

Visit your doctor and dentist at least once or twice a year for a full check-up so any problems can be addressed early so you have a better chance of recovery to health. Getting your teeth cleaned by a dentist helps avoid tooth loss caused by tooth decay and gum disease by removing germs on the teeth.
 

If a tooth is removed

If a tooth needs to be removed from the mouth, smoking can increase the risk of a complication called dry socket. A dry socket is where the tissue that was holding the tooth in the mouth stops healing properly. This can be very painful. It is important to not smoke for as long as possible after having a tooth removed.
 

Do not smoke inside the house or car

What you breathe out, our family breathes in. Second-hand smoke contains poisons that risk our health. Breathing in second-hand smoke is risky to everyone, but especially children and pregnant women.
 

Chewing quid

Quid is a mixture of Australian bush tobacco leaf, ash, and saliva. Bush tobacco (also known as Pituri, Pitjuri and Mingkulpa) is native to Australia and used in some Aboriginal communities to treat bites and sores and may be gifted to loved ones. What many of our mob might not know is that bush tobacco is a tobacco plant, and it can be harmful to our health, the same as tobacco bought from shops.
 

Stop the spread of COVID-19

Keep our mob safe and protect our Elders by not sharing your smokes and not smoking used cigarette butts.

Read more about smoking and vaping.

Reasons to quit

The traditional smoking ceremony cleanses and strengthens our spirit, keeping us connected and healthy. Tobacco and vaping are not part of our culture and they weaken our body, mind, and spirit. Smoking is the most preventable cause of poor health and early death among our mob.

There are many benefits of quitting smokes. Quitting is tricky at first but the longer you are smoke free, the easier it can get.

It is important to remember the benefits of quitting smoking, like improving your health and saving money. It is never too late to quit. The benefits of quitting smoking at different ages is explained by www.icanquit.com.au in the below table.
 

Tip 2: Create a quit plan

Giving up smokes may take many tries before you are successful. Some things might work, and others may not. Take a step-by-step approach to build a quit plan just for you by using the free online tools below.

QuitCoach

QuitCoach is a free online tool to help create and stick to a quit plan made just for you. QuitCoach can be used with QuitTxt.
Sign up for QuitCoach.

iCanQuit

Tip 3: Know your triggers

It is important to know what might make us want to smoke. This might be smells, gatherings, places, or emotions like feeling anxious or down. The first two weeks are the hardest so think about:

• Spending time with friends that do not smoke.
• Delaying BBQs and parties until you feel more in control of your cravings.
• Make your car and home smoke free zones.

Tip 4: Manage cravings

Staying quit is the hard part of the journey. Take each day at a time. If you slip up, do not give up. It may take many goes to quit. Take your mind off craving the next smoke and go for a walk or have a healthy snack.

To help reduce cravings and withdrawals you can use nicotine patches, gum and stop smoking medications. Have a yarn to your AMS health worker or doctor about these products because you may be eligible to get them at a lower cost.

Tip 5: Keep motivated

Your health worker can refer you to support programs in your local area to help you stay on track. Find an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Medical Service near you here.

There are also online programs or mobile phone apps that can help you quit. Easily access QuitTxt or Quitly services using your mobile phone.

QuitTxt

QuitTxt is an interactive SMS program to help you prepare to quit, maintain motivation and stay on track after you quit. It takes around 5-10 minutes to sign up. Sign up for QuitTxt.

Quitly 

A free chatbot on Facebook Messenger asks you a few questions to help motivate you to quit, maintain motivation and manage smoking triggers. Search for Quitly.bot in Facebook messenger or head over to m.me/quitly.bot to get started.


Mobile phone apps can also help to keep you motivated through the process of quitting. There are many different apps to help you give up the smokes and keep motivated and focused once you do. Check out some apps to help you quit smoking below.

My Quitbuddy 

A free app providing games to distract you from cravings and motivational tools such as a live map of your body to show how your health is improving.
Find the app in the Apple Store or on Google Play.

Smoke Free 

A free app providing tools to manage your cravings by monitoring when they occur and rewarding your achievements.
Find the app in the Apple Store or on Google Play.