Scotland May Miss Its 2016 Smoke-Free Target
Scotland may miss its smoke-free target despite progress in tobacco control, with evidence showing smoking remains a persistent problem in lower-income communities.
In 2017, the Scottish government announced plans to develop a tobacco strategy aimed at achieving a "smoke-free" Scotland by 2034. At that time, the University of Edinburgh and NHS Health Scotland conducted a survey to determine whether efforts to reduce smoking were effective. The findings indicated that while local tobacco control strategies were working, smoking remained a significant issue in low-income communities.<\/span><\/div>
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"Evidence shows the positive impact of tobacco policies, from the display ban on smoking in small shops and supermarkets to the introduction of tobacco in smoke-free NHS venues," said Dr. Gregor Reid, Chief Public Health Advisor at NHS Scotland at the time.<\/span><\/div>
"However, smoking rates remain highest in Scotland's poorest areas, with 35% of the population in the most deprived areas smoking, compared to 10% in the wealthiest areas. Clearly, further action is needed to reduce smoking inequalities to achieve a smoke-free Scotland by 2034."<\/span><\/div>
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The rate of decline in smoking needs to be doubled.<\/span><\/div>
Sadly, three years later, the situation appears to remain the same. A recent analysis by CRUK indicated that if smoking rates continue to decline at the current pace, 12% of adults will still be smoking by 2034. The charity added that to achieve this goal, the rate of decline in smoking needs to be nearly doubled, and the number of smokers must decrease by 585,000 from current levels.<\/span><\/div>
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Meanwhile, the analysis indicated that by 2050, 10% of people in poorer communities will still be smoking, while 19% of adults were still smoking in 2018, with smoking rates in Scotland's most deprived areas reaching as high as 32%. Additionally, the total number of smokers increased for the first time in seven years, rising from 806,817 in 2017-18 to 808,829 in 2018-19.<\/span><\/div>
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Vapers need guidance.<\/span><\/div>
In 2018, the Scottish government released a new tobacco control action plan that officially banned smoking in hospital buildings, prisons, school grounds, and designated residential buildings or spaces.<\/span><\/div>
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However, the anti-smoking charity New Nicotine Alliance (NNA) expressed some reservations about this measure. They highlighted the need for guidelines for health professionals and other relevant service providers so they can offer basic advice on the use of e-cigarettes as support for smokers choosing to quit with e-cigarettes.<\/span><\/div>
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The NNA stated that while it welcomes the recognition of these devices as smoking cessation tools, healthcare professionals may not be the best source for providing guidance on the best e-cigarette products, and more advisory options should be made available to consumers than currently exist.<\/span><\/div>
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"We find that some smoking cessation services are unwilling or unable to support smokers expressing interest in e-cigarettes, simply pushing them towards licensed medications. For whatever reason, if the Scottish government truly wants to achieve a smoke-free future, they should leverage the skills and knowledge available for providing e-cigarettes to consumers rather than relying on organizations that lack understanding of the products."<\/span><\/div>
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