31 October 2007
A unique meeting hosted by ASH Scotland will bring together representatives from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Tayside, Forth Valley, Fife, and West Lothian this Wednesday [31 October] to discuss the important issue of reducing smoking, especially amongst young people and in the home, and the issues that those working in tobacco control face. Speaking about the event which will be held in Dundee, Sheila Duffy, ASH Scotland’s Director of Information and Communications said:
“Smoking remains Scotland’s biggest preventable killer, with 24% of deaths every year being attributable to smoking. That is why it is important that tobacco control is not just a public health priority but an issue for the whole community. This seminar brings together people with an interest in reducing tobacco use. It will include representatives from the NHS, local authorities, and community and voluntary organisations from across Aberdeen, Tayside, Forth Valley, Fife, and the Lothians
“This unique meeting will provide an opportunity to increase the effectiveness of smoking prevention and cessation activities by co-ordinating the activities of organisations working in the field and thereby gaining maximum impact. Through presentations, workshops, and Q&A sessions, there will be an opportunity to share ideas and best practice, build networks, and explore some specific issues.
“Area of discussions will focus on preventing our future generations from starting to smoke and initiatives to reduce smoking in the home. We will also examine how partnership working through a Local Tobacco Control Alliance can support and enhance health improvement strategies and help co-ordinate local tobacco control activities. This is particularly relevant as the Scottish Government is due to publish their Smoking Prevention Action Plan in spring next year.
"By tackling smoking and reducing the numbers who smoke, we can improve the health of people, increase the life expectancy of our nation, and reduce the impact of smoking related disease on our families, our communities, and our NHS.”
Dr Andrew Thomson, a Tayside GP and member of BMA’s Board of Science, will highlight to the seminar the effect of smoking on children's health. Dr Thomson said:
“More must be done to break the cycle of children's exposure to tobacco. This includes measures to make cigarettes more inaccessible to children. By introducing a tobacco sales licensing system, banning vending machines, and making tobacco products more expensive, fewer children will be able to buy them. The younger someone starts to smoke, the less likely they are to give up. It is therefore essential that we break the tobacco trap. In addition, one of the best ways to prevent children starting to smoke is to help their parents quit. Adequately resourced and targeted smoking cessation programmes are key to this."
Liz Wigg, Smoke Free Homes Co-ordinator with Salford City Council, will discuss her experience researching and setting up the Salford Smoke Free Homes Project:
“Over 1,000 homes across Salford have signed up to the Smoke Free Homes promise since it began just three months ago – smashing initial targets and exceeding expectations. The project aims to reduce people's exposure to smoke and to raise awareness of the consequences of exposure to second-hand smoke through a graded commitment of making your home free of harmful cigarette smoke. The success of the project is down to the way that the service is
run. It is a community-owned service that employs locally-based advisors who
are active in the community, offering personalised face to face advice and
practical support. This project will improve people's health and shows the message about the damaging effects of second hand smoke is really hitting home.”
Also taking part in the seminar with a joint presentation on partnership working in tobacco control in Dundee, are Paul Ballard, NHS Tayside’s Deputy Director of Public Health and Craig Somers, Senior Environmental Health Officer for Dundee City Council. Commenting Craig Somers said:
"In Dundee, Environmental Health & Trading Standards chair the multi agency Dundee Tobacco Control Alliance the aim of which is to reduce the general prevalence of smoking. Our twin enforcement roles of smoking prohibition and restricting under age sales are critical in tackling this major public health problem".
Sheila Duffy, Dr Thomson, and Craig Somers are available for interview.
ENDS
For further information and interviews with Sheila Duffy please contact: Jeanette Campbell 0131 220 9466.
For Dr Andrew Thomson, please contact Lisa Rooke, BMA Scotland, 0131 247 3052.
For Craig Somers, contact Mike Boyle, Dundee City Council, 01382 434196.
For more information on the Salford Smoke Free Homes initiative, contact Salford Council Press Officer Natalie Lewis 0161 793 2914
Notes to Editors:
1. ASH Scotland is the leading voluntary organisation campaigning for effective measures to protect people from the harmful effects of tobacco.
2. Current smoking prevalence rates and deaths attributed to smoking according to ‘An Atlas of Tobacco Smoking in Scotland’:
|
Deaths attributed to smoking (health board area 2000-04) |
Current smoking prevalence (local authority area 16 yrs+) |
|
Fife 23% |
Aberdeen City 26.5% |
|
Forth Valley 24% |
Angus 25.2% |
|
Aberdeen 21% |
City of Edinburgh 23.5% |
|
Lothian 25% |
Clackmannanshire 29.8% |
|
Tayside 21% |
Dundee 30.5% |
|
Scotland 24% |
Fife 28.4% |
|
|
Perth & Kinross 21.8% |
|
|
Stirling 23.5% |
|
|
West Lothian 28.9% |
|
|
Scotland 27.2% |
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