The Scottish Household Survey published today (03/08/06) shows that in 2005 26% of people in Scotland smoked. This is a 1% decline from 2004 and a 4% decline from 1999.
Maureen Moore, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland said,
¿This is the second year in a row that we have seen a 1% reduction in the smoking rate according to the Scottish Household Survey. Whilst this is a move in the right direction, it is obviously smaller than we¿d like. These statistics are for 2005 however. With the increased investment in smoking cessation and a greater awareness of the damage caused by tobacco that the smoking ban has generated, ASH Scotland is confident of a larger decline in the number of smokers in Scotland over the next few years.¿
But Scotland¿s poorest still smoke, and suffer, the most
The reduction in Scotland¿s overall smoking level masks huge inequalities in who smokes. It remains a fact that Scotland¿s poorest are almost three times more likely to smoke than the most affluent. According to the survey, 41% of the most deprived smoke compared to 14% of the least deprived.
Areas with the highest level of deprivation also have higher smoking rates than relatively prosperous areas. For example Glasgow and North Lanarkshire have smoking rates above 30%, whilst Grampian and Renfrewshire have smoking rates of 20% and 22% respectively. Grampian and Renfrewshire have also seen the largest decreases in the numbers of people smoking over the past two years.
Maureen Moore said,
¿Yet again we can see that the damage caused by tobacco falls disproportionately on Scotland¿s most disadvantaged. 13 000 Scots die every year because of tobacco and many of those people come from deprived backgrounds. This underlines ASH Scotland¿s campaign for further investment in Scottish smoking cessation services, to enable them to reach out into the communities with the highest smoking rates.¿
Young people smoking becoming a bigger challenge
The survey also shows erratic smoking rates for 16-24 year olds. For women in this age group the figure went from 32% in 2003, to 24% in 2004 and to 28% in 2005. The figures for 16-24 year old men show a similar trend. This rollercoaster ride effect demonstrates the need for further government action, and shows a real risk of further increases in young people smoking if the government fails to reach out effectively. The time has come for an effective national strategy to help young people avoid smoking.
|
2005 Smoking% by Region (2003 data in brackets) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Edinburgh |
23 |
(22) |
+1 |
|
Glasgow |
31 |
(33) |
-2 |
|
Fife |
31 |
(31) |
-1 |
|
North Lanarkshire |
32 |
(33) |
-1 |
|
South Lanarkshire |
25 |
(25) |
0 |
|
Highlands and Islands |
22 |
(24) |
-2 |
|
Grampian |
20 |
(26) |
-6 |
|
Tayside |
26 |
(25) |
+1 |
|
Central |
28 |
(28) |
0 |
|
Dunbartonshire |
25 |
(24) |
+1 |
|
Renfrewshire and Inverclyde |
22 |
(27) |
-5 |
|
Ayrshire |
27 |
(30) |
-3 |
|
Lothians |
27 |
(29) |
-2 |
|
Southern Scotland |
27 |
(24) |
+3 |
For more information please call ASH Scotland on 0131 225 4725 during office hours or 0777 3351878 at other times.
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