NO ANTI-SMOKING AIDS FOR MEDICAL CARD-HOLDERS

The Department of Health has refused to make nicotine replacement
products available to medical card-holders under the General Medical
Services Scheme. An Irish Cancer Society survey has shown smoking is
most common in lower socio-economic groups.

The survey, carried out by Irish Marketing Surveys, reveals 36 per
cent of people in the lowest socioeconomic group smoke, compared with
22 per cent for the rest of the population.

The survey results, released on the eve of today's Irish Cancer
Society "National No Smoking Day", also show women are more likely to
smoke than men.

According to Mr Barry Dempsey, chief executive of the Irish Cancer
Society, one Irish person dies every six hours from lung cancers - 90
per cent of which are due to smoking.

The society also revealed that its new "National Quitline" received
more than 500 calls in January.

The survey results brought an immediate call from Dr Fenton Howell, a
public health specialist with the North Eastern Health Board and a
member of the antismoking campaign ASH, for nicotine replacement
products, such as gum and patches, to be provided free to medical
card-holders.

But the Department of Health said yesterday it had no plans to accede
to the request. In a statement, the Department said nicotine
replacement products did not belong to the category of products which
could satisfy the criteria for inclusion in the scheme.

The Department instead pointed to its annual anti-smoking campaign.
This year's scheme, launched in January and called "Break the Habit
for Good", has been developed in co-operation with the Irish Cancer
Society, the statement said.

The survey found that adults who claimed they never smoked were more
likely to be under 25 and from a middle class or farming background.

This category accounted for one in two, or 50 per cent of those
surveyed, while a further 18 per cent had given up smoking. This
latter group was likely to comprise males aged more than 50.

Almost one in three respondents, 32 per cent, described themselves as
smokers. The survey found that smokers were now more likely to be
female, to be aged between 35 and 49, to be from a "blue collar"
background and to live in Dublin.

While almost three-quarters (73 per cent) of former smokers cited
health as the most important reason for giving up, the cost of
cigarettes was accepted as a major factor among those considering giving up.

The survey found that over half of respondents (52 per cent) would
consider cutting down if the price of a pack of cigarettes was IEP4.
But almost the same proportion said they would only consider stopping
if the price was increased to IEP4.50.

Surprisingly, just one in four non-smokers mentioned a dislike of the
smell of stale smoke.

Commenting on the results, Mr Dempsey said it was encouraging to note
that a majority of smokers were concerned about their health.

Mr Dempsey said that according to the survey 57 per cent of current
smokers see health as the principal factor in considering whether to
give up or cut down on cigarettes.

However, he said the survey clearly showed "the status quo cannot be
allowed to continue. It is clear from the survey that the Government
should substantially increase the price of cigarettes, which would
cause many smokers to quit, many more to cut down and in addition,
young people would be discouraged from becoming committed smokers."

The Irish Cancer Society's National Quitline, staffed by trained
counsellors, is available on 1850 201 203, from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Monday to Friday.