Smoking rates drop

Smoking rates in Australia continue to drop, according to results released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

The AIHW's 2013 National Drug Strategy Household Survey shows that the daily smoking rate dropped significantly between 2010 and 2013, from 15.1% to 12.8% among people 14 or older.

Younger people are also continuing to delay their first alcoholic drink. The age at which 14 to 24-year-olds first tried alcohol rose from 14.4 to 15.7 years of age between 1998 and 2013.

Dentists will be pleased to hear this news as tobacco and alcohol are major risk factors for oral and general health.

Regrettably, almost 5 million people aged 14 or older (26%) reported being a victim of an alcohol-related incident in 2013 - a decline from 29% in 2010.