Smoking and cancer risk

Tobacco smoking is the biggest preventable risk factor for cancer. The risks also increase with the length of time spent smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked.

There are 16 different cancers that can be caused by tobacco smoking. Tobacco smoking also increases risks for other health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. 

Smoking rates have declined over the years with 8.6 per cent of South Australian adults smoking daily.

The prevalence of smoking is often higher among vulnerable communities. For this reason, smoking is an important social justice issue.