Many loathe it and cannot comprehend why anyone would intentionally harm themselves by doing something that, in many cases, will inevitably cut their lives short.

For others, it’s as much a part of their daily routine as brushing their teeth. For some in this category, it’s not something they want to keep doing, but is an extremely difficult habit to break due to the addictive nature of nicotine.

I have never tried smoking and never plan to, and don’t claim to know or understand what it feels like to ‘need’ that calming influence, or how difficult it must be for those wanting to quit.

However there is no denying the burdens our communities face because of smoking and the related health, economic and social costs it generates.

Quit Victoria statistics show the health care costs associated with smoking total more than half a billion dollars each year.

And the estimated annual net workforce labour cost of smoking is more than $1.1 billion.

In light of this, Quit Victoria has launched the Target 2025 campaign to decrease the percentage of Victorians smoking daily from 13.7 per cent to five per cent in the next seven years.

If smoking could be reduced to five per cent by this time, then by 2037 we would have $1.9 billion more a year available to invest in the state's economy. 

Think of how many health services, jobs, or roads and sporting club upgrades that could pay for.

More importantly, think of how many lives might be saved if this aim was realised.

It is also important to note that while decreasing the smoking rate is the end goal, working out how to get there is the key part of the puzzle.

Smokers need to feel supported and have access to the relevant services and programs they need to quit smoking, if that is what they wish to do. Because from all accounts it is rarely ever easy, and difficult to do alone.

Five per cent by 2025 might be an ambitious target, but it needs to be to have a hope of affecting real and lasting change.

It is an individual’s right to decide whether or not they want to smoke. But if they choose to do so, the larger impact of that decision cannot afford to be ignored.