Smoking figures remain high amongst deprived Scots

A recent report in Scottish paper The Daily Record has revealed that the level of smoking amongst the poorer communities in Scotland remains at an alarmingly high rate, despite the ban on smoking in public places, brought into the country’s law in 2006.

The figures also indicate that there is a marked difference in the propensity to smoke between those living in more affluent areas to those in socially and economically deprived areas, the latter of which are in fact four times more likely to smoke. Figures by BMA Scotland reveal that amongst the population living in deprived areas, there is around a 50% smoking rate in the community. Amongst the more affluent areas however, the percentage of people exposed to smoke in the home is thought to be as low as 10%.

The report also reveals that the rate of smoking amongst men in the country has actually increased since last year – up 1% this year to 26%. There has also been a worrying increase in the number of younger people who are smoking – the rate amongst 16-24 year olds has gone up from 24 per cent in 2009 to 25 per cent last year.

There has been criticism by some corners about the planned cuts to the tobacco control budget, which will be reduced by £900,000 over the next three years.

Former first minister Jack McConnell commented: “It is very important that the health service helps people with consistent programmes using patches and other methods to give up.”