Prisoners at Wooroloo Prison Farm are taking up the challenge to quit smoking during October as part of the first annual 'Stoptober' campaign.
The initiative, by Wooroloo Prison Farm and Cancer Council WA's Make Smoking History, has seen around 70 prisoners sign up to stop smoking during October, with 20 of their peers choosing to attend a smoking cessation information session to learn strategies to help their mates.
Make Smoking History Manager Libby Jardine said she was pleased prisoners were participating in the campaign, as almost 75 per cent of WA prisoners are current smokers when they enter prison, compared to around 11.6 per cent of the WA general population.
"To see so many prisoners give quitting a go is an enormous achievement for all involved," Ms Jardine said.
"The WA prison system has almost 7000 people in custody, and we know the majority smoke.
"We also know that some even take up smoking for the first time while in prison.
"There is consistent evidence that nearly half of all prisoners who smoke wish to quit smoking; they see what it does to their health and their families and that's something they really want to change."
Wooroloo prison officer and project leader Donna Barnett said she had seen the devastating effects of tobacco among prisoners for many years.
"Prisoners have many different issues when they are in our care, but smoking is one of the worst because it affects so many of them," Ms Barnett said.
"Quitting smoking is an opportunity for a prisoner to achieve something incredible; to regain their confidence in themselves to overcome difficulties.
"It's also an opportunity to add 10 healthy years to their life."
UWA researcher, Craig Cumming, who is part of the Health After Release from Prison study, said addressing smoking among prisoners was vital for WA prisons.
"As the vast majority of prisoners will one day be released back into the community, this is a public health problem that has implications for Australia's health system, and society generally," he said.
"It is something that needs to be urgently addressed."
Prisoners taking part in the campaign will be offered to buy nicotine replacement patches and be directed to the Quitline expert support service which they can access on telephones within the prison.
They will also be invited to take part in a weekly support group run by prisoners employed as peer support workers at the prison, all who had recently attended a short training course with Cancer Council WA.
Prisoners who succeed in abstinence after a number of weeks will be awarded a certificate from the Superintendent and a positive note on their record.
Cancer Council WA has begun working with Acacia Prison and has plans to continue to roll out the program.