Study 2.1: Tobacco control interventions and smoking inequities

This study probes how existing and proposed tobacco control measures have affected smokers and their whānau, and how policy measures could more effectively reduce smoking prevalence and related inequities. Using kanohi ki te kanohi interviews with smokers, recent quitters, and their whanau, this study will extend EASE analyses and examine recent and proposed policy measures that reduce the appeal, availability and affordability of tobacco products.  

Research Team: Hāpai te Hauora and University of Otago researchers

Project lead: Lizzie Strickett

Supporting researcher: Janet Hoek

Study 2.2: Retail reduction strategies

Tobacco outlet density is greater in areas of higher deprivation, and smoking is three times more prevalent in the most deprived communities. Reducing the number of tobacco outlets could reduce these inequities and decrease smoking initiation among young people. We will review approaches used in international settings that have disallowed tobacco sales, interview NZ retailers who have voluntarily de-listed tobacco, develop and workshop case studies to explore with current tobacco retailers, and develop recommendations to support retailers to transition out of tobacco sales.

Research Team: University of Otago researchers and Hāpai te Hauora

Project lead: Janet Hoek

Supporting researcher: Lizzie Strickett

Study 2.3: Analysing tobacco social supply networks

Rationale: Many young people report accessing tobacco through informal supply networks, which may undermine reductions in adolescent smoking prevalence. This study will examine how young people access tobacco and co-create culturally-relevant resilience resources that could help rangitahi resist tobacco social supply routes.

Research Team: University of Otago researchers and Hāpai te Hauora

Project lead: Janet Hoek

Supporting researchers: Mei-Ling Blank, Lani Teddy, Lizzie Strickett

Study 2.5: Vaping to smoking relapse

Although electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are widely held to pose fewer risks than smoking, people who transition from smoking to ENDS use can later relapse to smoking. Knowledge of how relapse from exclusive vaping to smoking occurs remains an unaddressed question, yet is critical if ENDS are to fulfil a harm-reduction role. This project draws on work from earlier HRC and Marsden projects and examines advice that could be offered to people transitioning from smoking to ENDS use, where the risk of relapse back to smoking is high.

Research Team: University of Otago researchers and Hāpai te Hauora

Project lead: Lindsay Robertson

Supporting researchers: Janet Hoek

Project advisors: Anaru Waa, Lizzie Strickett