Australian Anti-Smoking Campaign A Success..

August 26, 2008 - The 'Every cigarette is doing you damage' campaign, which started 11 years ago and cost around A$9 million (US$7,721,647.98), is expected to save more than A$740 million (US$634,891,055.94)in health care costs. Among the 190,000 people estimated to have quit smoking during the first six months of the campaign alone, almost 55,000 deaths and 57,000 cases of disease would be prevented, Ms Hurley, the study coauthor, said.

The campaign ran nationally from June 1997 until July 2000, and again in 2004.

The release of the results coincides with a reworked version of the campaign, which will start broadcasting on television tonight and run for five weeks. The graphic advertisements show yellowish fatty deposits being squeezed from the aorta, the main artery from the heart, of a 32-year-old male smoker.

Reference: Anti-smoking ads 'saved 55,000 lives', The Australian, 8/25/2008.

ABSTRACT: Cost-Effectiveness of the Australian National Tobacco Campaign, Susan F Hurley, Jane P Matthews, 8/21/2008.

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