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Death and disease facts

  • In Scotland in 2004 an estimated 13,473 deaths in Scotland were attributed to smoking, which equated to 24% of all deaths.
    Source: An Atlas of Tobacco Smoking in Scotland: a report presenting estimated smoking prevalence and smoking-attributable deaths within Scotland.  NHS Health Scotland & ASH Scotland, 2007. Available fromThe Scottish Public Health Observatory[accessed 1st February 2008]
  • Smoking is the most important cause of premature death in developed countries. It accounts for one fifth of deaths in the UK: some 120,000 deaths a year.
    Source: Department of Health. 1998. Report of the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health. London: The Stationery Office. 
  • In Scotland over 13,000 people die every year from tobacco use.
    Source: Callum C. 1998. The UK smoking epidemic: deaths in 1995. London: The Health Education Authority
  • The avoidance of smoking would eliminate one third of the cancer deaths in Britain and one sixth of the deaths from other causes.
    Source: Department of Health.1998. Report of the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health. [online] London: The Stationery Office. Available from: http://www.archive.official-documents.co.uk/document/doh/tobacco/report.htm [accessed 15 April 2005]
  • One in two regular long-term smokers will die early from a disease related to smoking.
    Source: Peto, Lopez et-al. 1994. Mortality from smoking in developed countries 1950-2000. Oxford: Oxford University Press

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  • © ASH Scotland 2010

Action on Smoking & Health (Scotland) (ASH Scotland) is a registered Scottish charity (SC 010412) and a
company limited by guarantee(Scottish company no 141711). The registered office is 8 Frederick Street,
Edinburgh EH2 2HB.

ASH Scotland acknowledges with thanks the support of the British Heart Foundation and the Scottish Government in developing our website.

  • British Heart Foundation
  • Scottish Government