The TISN aims to bring together government, and non-government services, to establish a network for tobacco action. A focus is those services working with disadvantaged groups. The network will be a platform for sharing information on tobacco control. It will help start new partnerships and provide chances for learning. The TISN is offering:

A regional meeting; offering a chance to network and access up to date information. An online networking platform (using Linkedin); to enable members to talk and discuss issues.

A biannual newsletter. A reference group is being

established; compris ing of experienced and credentialed staff in the region. Network members can draw upon these people if they have questions about smoking cessation. The TISN is open to all staff working in government, and

non-government services, and will work towards building relationships and partnership approaches to address smoking in our communities.

Contact details: Health Promotion 02 6080 8911 Join our LinkedIn page brendan.pearson@gsahs.health.nsw.gov.au

Winter Edition 2011

What is the TISN? p1 Who are your TISN team members? p1 Patches on the PBS p2 Smoke Free Local Government p2 Q&A p3 Linking Professionals through LinkedIn p3 Tobacco Forum in Wagga Wagga p3 Up & Coming Training p4 What’s New? Smoking Cessation Resources p4

Tobacco Information Sharing Network

Please contact Brendan Pearson on the number below, to join the network. Who are your TISN team members? Brendan Pearson: Brendan is the Health Promotion Leader for the tobacco portfolio. He has worked in dietetics since 2003, joining the Health Promotion team in 2007. In 2010 he took the position of tobacco control leader after Kylie Weir left the role. Brendan is based in Albury. Emma Ghys: Emma has worked as a Dietitian since 2005. Emma has spent her working years in Victoria, and also in New South Wales. Emma joined Health Promotion in November 2010, and works in the areas of healthy weight, falls prevention and tobacco control. Emma is also based in Albury. Rhiannon Speechley: Rhiannon has a background in general health promotion, and has been working in Health Promotion since 2008. Rhiannon joined the tobacco control portfolio in 2010, and previously worked in falls prevention. Rhiannon works from Deniliquin.

What is the TISN? The TISN evolved in January 2008 after discussions between the local Cancer Council and the Health Service. The TISN has been re-established this year, after a temporary break.

Contents

Networkin

g with

fello

w

health p

rofessi

onals

Nicotine patches are now on the PBS, with the new National health program making it easier for smokers to quit. Rhiannon Speechley, Health Promotion Officer, urges all staff to make their clients aware of this new program. “Prior to February 2011, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) programs were only for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders. This program gives everyone access to a 12 week course per year”, Rhiannon said. The basis for this program is obvious. Tobacco smoking causes high rates of ill health and premature death—more than any other drug used in Australia. In 2004 to 2005, active and passive smoking caused almost 15,000 Australian deaths. Further, it resulted in a $669.6 million debt to the health system.

Rhiannon said, “Young people and the disadvantaged will benefit most from this program. Men 18-24, and women 25-34, are the highest age groups that smoke. And over 28% of people in disadvantage smoke in Australia.” Clients can access the program via a script from their doctor or nurse practitioner. This will permit a 12 week course of 21mg or 15mg patches per year.

“A 28 day supply of patches with a script will be $5.60 for a health card holder. A non health

card holder will pay $34.20. If smokers relapse in an attempt, they are still entitled to access other quit smoking medications, Bupropion and Varenicline,

on the PBS” Rhiannon said.

Clients should seek counselling in their quit attempt. The Quit phone support program, 137848, or the iCanQuit website are excellent programs. For more information, go to the PBS website or contact the TISN team.

page 2

Patches on the PBS Tobacco Information Sharing Network

A 28 day supply of patches with a

script will be approx. $5.60 for a

health card holder.

Three local councils in our region introduced Smoke Free Outdoor policies this year. These are vital to protect people from second hand smoke. A partnership (Health, Cancer Council and Heart Foundation) approached four local councils. Two of the four were offered $2000 for signage, to implement Smoke Free policies. Brendan Pearson, Health Promotion Leader, said, “Young, Temora, Leeton and Harden were approached this year. The basis being that they are Cancer Council partners, had high rates of smoking in pregnancy and smoking related hospital visits”. “Leeton, Temora and Young councils, after some public discussion and feedback, voted these policies in. These policies include areas such as, alfresco dining areas, sports grounds and children’s playgrounds. Also near council buildings and council events” Mr Pearson said. Smoke Free Outdoor policies offer these benefits:

Protects vulnerable people (children, elderly, and hospitality workers) from second hand smoke Continues to de-normalise smoking. Reduces butt litter in those areas. Promotes a public health message. Reduces triggers for those during a quit attempt.

For more information about these council’s policies please visit their websites. For information to help your council introduce smoke free outdoor areas, please contact the TISN team.

Smoke Free Local Councils

Nicotine Patch

Smoke-free Playground!

Do you want to know the latest tobacco control information? If yes, join the Tobacco Information Sharing Network (TISN) page on Linkedin.com (Click on the LinkedIn logo above). By joining the TISN page you will get the latest updates on tobacco issues from around Australia and the world. You can join discussions, or ask the TISN members and team questions about tobacco issues from your work. You will also receive invites for future TISN meetings or forums, and training in the region. If you don’t know how to join Linkedin, you can email or phone Rhiannon or Emma, and they will send you details on how join up. Rhiannon Speechley 03 5882 2910 or rhiannon.speechley@gsahs.health.nsw.gov.au Emma Ghys 02 6080 8913 or emma.ghys@gsahs.health.nsw.gov.au

The latest advice about Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) was outlined at the Tobacco Information Sharing Network (TISN) meeting in Wagga in May. The meeting, hosted by Health Promotion, was attended by 20 staff from MLHD and local Aboriginal Medical Services. Other topics included:

Medications for quitting or managing nicotine dependence; The PBS NRT program; The NRT program for Aboriginal people through Close the Gap; Update on the Smoke Free Health Care policy; and Case scenarios for discussion about clinical and workplace tobacco issues.

Health Promotion Leader Brendan Pearson said staff at the meeting wanted to remain part of the Network and build its membership. Another plan was to form a local working party for the Smoke Free Health Care policy. Brendan said most staff attending felt their knowledge and confidence on tobacco control issues had improved. Brendan thanked Megan Savin from Cancer Council NSW, and Gabrielle Couch, Director of Pharmacy, for presenting. Thanks also, went to the staff who attended, making it a great day for networking. The vision of the TISN is to move the region towards a smoke-free community. The main purpose is to keep workers and services up to date with current information on tobacco. “Further aims i n c l u d e f o s t e r i n g

networking between these workers and services. We want sh ar i ng o f information and ideas. There’s promise for building stronger links, a n d p a r t n e r s h i p approaches to address smoking,” Brendan said. If you are interested in future meetings

and being a member , please contact the TISN team.

page 3

Q&A Is the ‘ iCanQuit’ website available in other languages? No, however the quitnow website is available in several languages. Click here to go to the Quitnow website. Is there a fine for littering (butts in particular) anywhere? Yes there are a range of fines for littering that include both public and private land. Please see the website of the NSW Government Office of Environment and Heritage Is the Nicotine Dependency Assessment a compulsory screen on eMR? No, unfortunately this is not a compulsory screen, so it might be a good idea to remind your colleagues how important it is to complete this screen.

Linking Professionals through

Tobacco forum in Wagga Wagga

TISN Regional meetin

g

in Wagga

Contact details; Health Promotion 02 6080 8911 Join our LinkedIn page brendan.pearson@gsahs.health.nsw.gov.au

Quit 4 New Life training: What is it? Quit smoking program for pregnant Aboriginal women and their partners. What staff? Aboriginal Health Workers, AMIHS maternity staff and other obstetric staff (as able to accommodate) When is it? Training to be held late 2011

Smokecheck:

What is it? Training to assist Aboriginal people to quit smoking What staff? For all staff who work with Aboriginal people (particularly Aboriginal Health Workers) When is it? We have been offered 2 full day workshops and 2 refresher sessions. Please contact the TISN team if you are interested in this training near you.

Smoking Care training:

What is it? Training to assist staff from Community Service Organisations tackle

smoking care issues with their clients. What staff? Any staff members in Community Service Organisations working with clients who are Homeless, Vulnerable,

have a Mental Illness etc. When is it? Please contact the TISN team if you are interested in this in a region near you.

page 4

New Renee Bittoun Combination NRT Algorithm: for the hard to treat smoker. Click here to go to the website. Smokerlysers: Recommended in the new algorithm to decide how best to treat an individual’s nicotine dependence. For more information contact: Air-Met Scientific Pty Ltd Phone : 1800 000 744 E-mail : sales@airmet.com.au Web: www.airmet.com.au

$513.00 + GST per unit, $45.20+ GST per 250 mouth pieces.

iCanQuit website: www.icanquit.com.au has an online quit guide, a social media-like online quit journey, and online savings calculator as well as a calculator that accrues as a quitter is on their journey.

Tobacco Information Sharing Network Quick Facts

15.8% of people smoked in NSW

in 2010

In 2009, 28.1% in the former

GSAHS smoked, compared with

16.3% of 16-24 year olds in NSW.

91.5% homes are smoke free in

the former GSAHS

Source: NSW Population Health Survey (HOIST). Centre for Epidemiology

and Research, NSW Department of Health

Up & Coming Training

What’s New? New smoking cessation resources