Cars, rent, smokes

FORMER SMOKER, GARY (53) FROM HOBART THREW AWAY HIS SMOKES SEVEN YEARS AGO AND RECKONS HE’S SAVED OVER $9,000 A YEAR, OR AROUND $80,000 SINCE. HE TOOK SOME OF THAT MONEY EARLY ON AND BOUGHT A NEW CAR.

There are so many reasons why people smoke:

feeling stressed or lonely as a reward feeling bored to mitigate side effects of medication habits like a cigarette with a coffee or a glass of alcohol.

It’s a big list! It’s almost as long as the list of reasons why 80% of Tasmanian smokers want to quit.

Top of that list is often cost.

Smoking costs a lot, and we all know it’s getting more expensive all the time. With the recent tax increase of 12.5% on tobacco an average cigarette costs around $1.51 or $906 a month if you smoke 20 a day. The amounts get scary over a year when a pack a day habit starts to impact rental costs and other living expenses.

If you are interested in finding out more, take a look at the new interactive cost calculator Quit Tasmania has developed. It quickly shows you what you’ll be able to save from the first day you quit. In just a month you could have a new phone or pay TV for a year and feel under less pressure with living costs.

Check it out at quittas.org.au/cost-of-smoking

Find out how much you could save - visit quittas.org.au/cost-of-smoking.

If you want some help with the list of things that make it hard for you give up, the skilled and supportive Quitline team are there to help on 13 78 48.

Department of Health

Trial of free take-home naloxone in Tasmania

What is the trial about?

The Tasmanian Government is investing in a trial of free take-home naloxone to people who are at risk of an opioid overdose. Opioids include drugs such as heroin and prescribed medicines (pharmaceutical opioids) such as oxycontin and fentanyl. 3 people die in Australia every day from opioid-related use. Over 110 000 Australians are struggling with opioid dependence. 64% of drug-induced deaths in 2018 involved opioids. Tasmania has the highest rate of prescribed opioids of all states and territories. The take-home naloxone trial aims to increase access to naloxone for people at risk of opioid overdose to reduce opioid-related deaths and reduce the stigmas associated with drug use. The trial will run from July 2020 until the end of February 2021.

What is naloxone?

Naloxone is a drug that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid-related overdose. It is safe to use and side effects are rare. Naloxone takes effect within 2-3 minutes of administration and its effects last between 30 and 90 minutes. The free naloxone will be available in the form of an easy-to-use nasal spray called Nyxoid®.

Where can people access free take-home naloxone?

The free take-home naloxone will be available from the following Needle and Syringe Program services:

Outlet name Location Phone number South

Clarence Community Health Centre 18-22 Bayfield Street - Rosny 6166 2323 Anglicare - Glenorchy 436 Main Road - Glenorchy 6213 3547 Anglicare - Hobart Basement 18 Watchorn Street - Hobart 6213 3943 Jordan River Services Inc - Bridgewater 6 Bowden Drive - Bridgewater 6263 4303

North

Salvation Army - Launceston 111 Elizabeth St - Launceston 6323 7500

North-West

Youth and Family Community Connections 62 Stewart Street - Devonport 6423 6635 Anglicare - Burnie 6 Strahan Street - Burnie 6430 3342 Community Pharmacies across Tasmania have been asked to help with the trial by referring any patients without a valid script—or pharmacies that do not have naloxone in stock—to direct the person to the nearest Needle and Syringe outlet (as listed above) or to refer them to the state Alcohol and Drug Service on 1300 139 641.

Where can I find more information on opioids and naloxone?

• the Australian Government Pilot (NSW, SA and WA) • the Alcohol and Drug Foundation — opioids and naloxone • the World Health Organization • the Penington Institute’s Community Overdose Prevention Education (COPE) Program • La Trobe University’s Overdose Lifesavers website

Department of Health