Smoking causes more than “just death”

Australia was due yesterday to start a new anti-tobacco propaganda campaign aimed at preventing the suffering caused by smoking.

According to an Australian Associated Press story, the campaign, called “Stop before the suffering starts”, will use television and radio, and the print, online and social media.

The campaign is said to highlight the toll taken by smoking-related illnesses and the impact on smokers and their families.

“Many medical conditions caused by smoking can result in not just death, but in living for years of suffering with disabling health problems,” said Health Minister Tanya Plibersek.

The story claimed the “goal was to reduce smoking rates from around 25 percent of the population to 10 percent by 2018.”