Time to quit smoking...

GONE are the days when cigarette smoking is acceptable and affordable. What started out as a prized social activity has now been reduced to a community stigma. Health hazards caused by smoking have triggered worldwide campaigns against this addictive habit and the peak of this initiative took place as recent as 2007 when several countries around the world such as Australia and the United Kingdom introduced smoke bans in all enclosed public places.

The rationale behind this initiative mainly lies with the fact that smoking is optional whereas breathing is not. Researchers have long concluded that second-hand smoking causes as much harm as smoking itself and these facts have been confirmed by institutions such as the World Health Organisation which considers smoke-free laws as necessary steps in order to shift social norms from the acceptance of smoking in everyday life. Diseases such as lung cancer and cardiovascular ailments are featured just as prominently in smokers themselves as well as non-smokers who are in regular contact with them.

Brunei, along with many countries, is aiming to progress towards a smoke-free nation and it is time that people get accustomed to this reality and make a decision on their choice of lifestyle. Effective on November 1, 2010, government tax regulations has increased the price of all tobacco sold in Brunei by more than double, hence regular smokers will be spending an additional amount of approximately $100 monthly to maintain their smoking habit.

This action was received well by those who do not smoke and not as enthusiastically by smokers, in general.

"I am very happy that Brunei has finally increased the price of cigarettes," said Lim, 28-year old IT engineer. "I think the fact that cigarettes are so cheap here may have contributed to the increasing number of smokers." As an overseas graduate, he explained, "In other countries where cigarettes cost about $10 to $15, people would think twice about buying cigarettes or even about whether they should be smoking in the first place."

Civil servant Adi, aged 25, felt that there should have been prior warning to the tobacco tax increase. "The news just came out of the blue and as a smoker, it is rather upsetting to discover that we have to pay more than double the amount we normally do, just for a pack of cigarettes." When asked if the tax increase would increase the chances of him quitting smoking, he said, "I feel that I may not have a choice as it is no longer viable to smoke."

Chong, 26, who works in the private sector, has also decided to cease his smoking habit due to the increase in prices although his motivation came from a different source. "In comparison to other countries, the price increase can be considered acceptable, despite the fact that Bruneian smokers are not taking the news well," he said.

"The biggest impact on me is actually peer influence, because most of my friends feel that it is too expensive to smoke so they have started to quit and I have gradually stopped too."

In addition, earlier this year, the 2005 Tobacco Order that declared public smoking as illegal was also firmly reinforced in Brunei with many offenders fined by the Tobacco Control Unit for smoking in prohibited areas. The Brunei government has officially decided to crackdown on the nation's tobacco users and aside from the implementation of regulations, help is also provided in the form of smoking cessation clinics.

It is a known fact that quitting smoking is not easy. Nicotine in cigarettes triggers a chemical reaction in the brain, similar to that of endorphins and dopamines, which are naturally occurring substances associated with sensations of satisfaction and pleasure. For most people, smoking develops into a habit at early stages as it serves as a source of positive reinforcement from pleasurable sensations. Once addiction kicks in, the key motivations to continue smoking are the avoidance of withdrawal symptoms and the resulting negative reinforcements.

The most important key in quitting would be self-motivation. According to medical personnel at the smoking cessation clinic in Anggerek, they do not impose the idea of quitting on those who are not interested or ready. "Interested individuals are usually enrolled in a group counseling session first, where they are educated on how the program works, the dangers of smoking and the benefits of quitting," said Dr Ernina Hj Abd Rani. "If they decide to proceed, they will then come in for an individual session with a doctor."

"Usually after the individual sessions, we will prescribe smoking cessation aids such as nicotine patches which helps to increase the chances of success," she further explained.

When asked about the success of the program, Dr Ernina said, "Last year, one in every three patients has managed to successfully quit for six months with a follow-up session after one year from being discharged from the programme." These quit rates are comparable to other countries such as the UK or Malaysia with success rates of approximately 25 to 30 per cent as well.

For those who did not manage to successfully complete the program, they are usually asked to re-evaluate their situation in order to regain motivation as "it is quite common for patients to lose their drive after a while," she added.

Halizan, aged 34 has been a smoker for 10 years and has decided to enroll in the program because "it is very expensive to smoke and it is better for my well-being too". All the enrollees share the same notion, including 23-year old student Miza who claimed, "I finally have a good reason to quit smoking".

The clinic also informed that since the increase in tobacco tax, there has also been an increase in the enrolments for their programme and they strongly encourage for more participants. "We hope that there will be fewer smokers and more people will come here to quit smoking as we want to work together to promote a healthier Bruneian lifestyle," said medical personnel at the clinic. There are currently four smoking cessation clinics available in Brunei at Anggerek, Sengkurong, Tutong and Seria.

Image taken from Borneo Bulletin

Article taken from Brunei Times