The smoking rates in the Lithgow area are nearly double the national average of less than 13 per cent.

Australia’s Health Tracker data shows over 25 per cent of residents are current smokers.

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) is providing a quit support program for smokers as part of a world-first study comparing two smoking cessation aids – a natural plant extract, cytisine, and an aid available from your doctor, varenicline.

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Trial leader Dr Ryan Courtney said access to support and treatment costs were barriers to quitting.

This study provides easy access to free quit aids delivered to participants’ doorstep.

“Our study is unique for smokers, as quit aids will be mailed to participants with all quit support provided over the phone and participants paid for their study participation,” Dr Courtney said.

“Both of these aids work similarly by reducing craving and other withdrawal symptoms caused by quitting smoking but we want to find out if one aid is better than the other at lifting quit rates”.

Varenicline is available in Australia from general practitioners (GPs) and other authorised health professionals.

Cytisine is a natural product that is derived from a plant extract. It is not currently available in Australia, but it has been used in Central and Eastern Europe for more than 50 years to help people quit smoking.

Dr Courtney said that cytisine had a shorter treatment period of one month, compared to three months for varenicline, and cytisine was substantially cheaper.

“If cytisine is shown to be as effective as varenicline but at a significantly lower cost it could produce substantial savings for health care systems and consumers.”

You can 1800 290 612 or email cessate@unsw.edu.au to find out more about the study.