Every week in Ireland, more than 100 people die from smoking-related diseases. This figure is so high because 20 per cent of the adult population is addicted to smoking.

However, despite Ireland having the highest death rate from lung disease in Europe, great strides have been made towards lowering the number of smokers. A new initiative aims to keep reducing those figures.

Ten years ago 30 per cent of adults in Ireland smoked; the Government and leading chest physicians are hopeful that in another decade, only 5 per cent will still be reliant on tobacco.

Dr Ross Morgan, consultant respiratory physician at Beaumont Hospital, has joined forces with the Department of Health to help promote an initiative for a tobacco-free Ireland in 2025.

Smoking-related deaths

“More than 5,500 people die from diseases such as COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease], cardiovascular disease and lung cancer every year in Ireland,” Morgan says. “These smoking-related illnesses cost the health service between €500 million and €1 billion annually, and the average smoker spends about €3,500 a year. That adds up to a very heavy toll, both in terms of personal and public expenditure and the health of the nation.

“The last health minister, Dr James Reilly, set up plans to reduce drastically the amount of tobacco consumption in the country and, while there is no doubt it will be a challenge, we are hopeful that it will be a major success.”

Over the next 10 years, it is hoped that the cost of cigarettes will be higher, the number of smoke-free zones will be increased, and the level of awareness regarding the dangers of smoking will be heightened.

“There are a number of components to the strategy for a tobacco-free Ireland,” Morgan says. “Building on the WHO [World Health Organisation] model, we will potentially see higher taxation, smoke-free zones in areas such as playgrounds and college grounds, and plain packaging on cigarettes.

“Obviously these changes won’t happen overnight and will be met with opposition from tobacco companies and smokers themselves, but it has been proven that people vote with their pockets and, if the price becomes prohibitive, it will act as a major deterrent.

“As a chest physician,” Morgan adds, “I have met countless people with lung disease who have told me that despite the obvious health warnings, it was the cost of a packet of cigarettes that eventually forced them to quit.”

E-cigarettes

Most smokers need some sort of assistance to help them give up smoking and while e-cigarettes have been marketed as the ideal alternative, many experts are not convinced, particularly as they may actually encourage teenagers to take up the habit.

“There is a big dilemma concerning e-cigarettes because while in principle it seems like an effective method of quitting smoking, it is also viewed as a gateway to tobacco for kids who have never smoked before,” Morgan says.

“Because it doesn’t currently fall under the ‘tobacco product’ category, it isn’t monitored in the same way as regular cigarettes and the fact that they are available in a variety of flavours [including cola and bubble gum] is a potential problem which has been noted by the international health community.

“People have become weary of hearing about the dangers of cigarettes, but they haven’t gone away and it is important to keep getting that message across.

“You are never too old to give up smoking,” Morgan adds. “It will be difficult to do, but there is lots of help available and it will be of huge benefit not only to people’s health but also to their pocket.

“Nicotine is the most addictive substance available so I would encourage everyone to quit their habit and work towards a tobacco-free Ireland.”

Dr Ross Morgan will be speaking at the St Luke's Symposium at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland in Dublin next month. To register for this free event, see rcpi.ie/stlukes