Working for a tobacco-free Scotland
Devolution has reduced smoking but more work needs to be done to tackle tobacco deaths
15 September 2010
Commenting on the publication of the first of two major reports investigating the progress of tobacco control in Scotland, ASH Scotland Chief Executive Sheila Duffy said it was clear that major progress had been made over the past decade but much more needed to be done. Speaking on the day ASH Scotland published 
State of the Nation: Measuring progress towards a tobacco-free Scotland, Ms Duffy also said the prevalence of smoking in deprived areas remained of major concern and needed to be urgently addressed. Ms Duffy said:
"Our publication 'State of the Nation' assesses where Scotland is in terms of tobacco control and smoking prevalence. Examining what policies, targets and action plans have been put in place since the publication of Scotland's first tobacco control strategy 'A Breath of Fresh Air' in 2004, this major piece of work considers Scotland's achievements to reduce the harm caused by smoking over the past decade and what still needs to be done.
"The report shows that tobacco control has been a real success story in Scotland since devolution with smoking rates reducing from 31% in 1999 to 24% in 2009. Successive Scottish governments have aimed to address Scotland's appalling public health record and reduce the quarter of all adult deaths caused by tobacco. Prevention and cessation are now major planks of public health policy thanks to clear strategies and legislation that have been pursued and courageous decisions taken.
"Whilst there is no doubt that in the last decade Scotland has become a world leader in tobacco control and major inroads have been made in encouraging smokers to quit and preventing young people from starting, Scotland's history of particularly high rates of smoking mean there is still work to be done. While 13,500 adult deaths are due to smoking every year and thousands of others suffer smoking related illnesses, we have a duty to reduce the toll tobacco takes on Scotland's public health.
"I am delighted to see that many targets have been met and progress made in reducing smoking amongst particular groups, for example with young people and pregnant women. However this report shows that within many other groups in our society, measures are not in place for services to be effectively and efficiently targeted where they are needed most. In particular smoking in Scotland's most deprived areas remains a major problem especially as it is a key contributor to low life expectancy. This is leading to an increasing health inequalities gap which must be addressed.
"This is the first of two major documents we will publish this autumn. This publication looks at where Scotland currently stands, and our second publication gives ideas on how we can continue to tackle tobacco, and how to take this forward through a much needed new tobacco control strategy for Scotland. Both these reports will underline the challenges we still face to reduce and prevent the huge health problems that tobacco causes.
"Tobacco is still Scotland's biggest preventable killer and it is time to explore new ways to continue to reduce the harm caused by this lethal product. The action taken now will pay dividends in the future. Tackling tobacco will bring long term benefits to both the health of our nation and our wider economy."
