Girl smokers at all-time high

An Argyll and Bute health study has found that there are more teenage girls who are smokers than boys. The result of these findings has pushed authorities to deliver more programmes in order cut down smoking rates in the area. In addition, women within the age group of 18 to 24 were found to have a higher rate of smoking than men of the same age. To combat this, Argyll and Bute’s Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), plans to aim its programme specifically at secondary school pupils to discourage them from smoking. HSCP will also deliver these projects to older primary schools pupils in the hopes that it will deter them in future. Recently, smoking cessation co-ordinator Laura Stephenson announced that plans were in place for an updated tobacco strategy to be implemented in Argyll and Bute. A spokesperson for the HSCP said: ‘Since 1996 girls had consistently reported higher smoking rates in Scotland compared to boys, but this gap has been closing as results from the last survey published in 2013 reveal. ‘Argyll and Bute’s smoking prevalence of girls in S2 and S4 was similar to the national average with 8.1 per cent of girls smoking compared to 6.1 per cent of boys. ‘However, within the 18 to 24 years old age group, the most recent report in 2015 reveals 24 per cent of females smoke compared to 18 per cent of males. For help to stop smoking visit your local pharmacy or ask your GP, additionally Quit Your Way can provide support over the phone. Quit Your Way is available on 0800 848484 or online at www.nhsinform.scot/ quit-your-way-scotland