NEWS
SMOKING RATES IN ENGLAND AT ALL
TIME LOW AS FEWER ADULTS THAN
EVER BEFORE LIGHT UP
Fewer than 17 per cent of the
population are smokers according
to Public Health England.
Smoking rates across England are now
at the lowest levels since records began
with only 16.9 per cent of the population
now lighting up, according to
health officials.
Public Health England (PHE) released
the figured as it launched its annual
Stoptober campaign to encourage the
nation’s remaining smokers to quit for the
month of October.
The idea behind quitting for a month is
not just a gimmick as PHE say studies
show that if people can give up for 28
days then they are more likely to stop
smoking for good.
Last year, out of the 2.5 million smokers
who made a quit attempt, 500,000
people (20%) were successful; the
highest recorded success rate and up
from just 13.6% 6 years ago.
This increase in successful stop smoking
attempts reflects the high number of
people using quitting aids. In 2015, just
over a million people (1,027,000) used
an e-cigarette in a quit attempt while
around 700,000 used a licensed nicotine
replacement product such as patches or
gum. In addition, over 350,000 people
28 ISSUE 07 VAPOUROUND MAGAZINE
used their local stop smoking service in
2015 to 2016.
Alongside this, according to the latest
data from Nielsen, the number of
cigarettes sold in England and Wales
has dropped by 20% in the last 2 years.
The smoking rate in England has also
fallen to below 17% for the first time.
The biggest decreases in smoking over
the last four years can be seen in the
South West (18.7% to 15.5%), the North
East (22% to 18.7%) and Yorkshire and
Humber (21.9% to 18.6%).
This increase in successful stop
smoking attempts reflects the
high number of people using
quitting aids. In 2015, just over a
million people (1,027,000) used
an e-cigarette in a quit attempt
while around 700,000 used a
licensed nicotine replacement
product such as patches or gum.
Dr Gina Radford, Deputy Chief
Medical Officer, said:
“While we know that quitting smoking
is not easy, this Stoptober is a perfect
time to try again. The best thing a
smoker can do for their health is to
stop smoking. There is more help and
support available now than ever before.
The introduction of standardised packs
removes the glamorous branding and
brings health warnings to the fore and
e-cigarettes, which many smokers find
helpful for quitting, are now regulated to
assure their safety and quality.”
Professor Kevin Fenton, National
Director of Health and Wellbeing
for PHE said:
“While it is amazing that there are over
twice as many ex-smokers as current
smokers in England there are still over 7
million people regularly lighting up.
“Alongside unhealthy diet, smoking is
the biggest cause of preventable early
death in England, accounting for over
78,000 deaths a year. Quitters will soon
see they have reduced blood pressure,
easier breathing and better circulation.
Stopping smoking is the best thing a
smoker can do to improve their health.”
Stoptober is back for a fifth year, having
driven almost a million quit attempts to
date. It starts on the 1 October and is
based on research that by the time you
have quit for 28 days you are 5 times
more likely to stop for good.
For more information, search ‘Stoptober’
online and choose the package of
support that will help you quit for good.