ASH Scotland comments on Scottish Household Survey results

23 August 2010

Commenting on the publication of the Scottish Household Survey today which shows that smoking among adults has reduced by nearly 1%, ASH Scotland Chief Executive Sheila Duffy said:

"This robust survey shows that the adult smoking rate in Scotland has dropped to 24.3% - and the biggest decline seems to be among 16-24 year old young women.  This means that in 2009 around 30,000 fewer Scots were smoking compared with 2008.  It's excellent news. 

"The year on year decline in smoking rates suggests that more and more people are succeeding in quitting smoking and that the public health messages about the harm caused by tobacco are getting through.

"Quitting smoking may be hard work but it is very rewarding in terms of better health and better quality of life. 69% of smokers say they want to quit so there is a continuing need for accessible stop-smoking services throughout Scotland.

"As new measures to prevent young people from taking up smoking start to be introduced, and if stop-smoking support is available, we will continue to see a reduction in smoking in future years. This will also lead to a reduction in the quarter of all adult deaths that are currently caused by smoking.

"That is why the work being done to tackle smoking through prevention and cessation services is essential and must be maintained if we are to continue to improve our nation's health and make Scotland a healthier society."

Sheila Duffy is available for ISDN interview. For further information please contact ASH Scotland on 0131 225 4725.

ENDS

Notes for Editors
1. Action on Smoking & Health (Scotland) (ASH Scotland) is an independent Scottish charity working in partnership to protect people from the harm caused by tobacco. Registered Scottish charity number SC 010412.
2. The Scottish Household Survey is available at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/16002
3. "30,00 fewer Scots were smoking…" Scotland's People Annual Report: Results from the 2009 Scottish Household Survey applied to 2009 mid-year population estimates for Scotland from General Register Office for Scotland adult population (aged 16+), and compared with same methodology for 2008.