SCOTLAND SET TO MISS TARGETS TO STUB OUT SMOKING
CAMPAIGNERS believe Scotland is in line to miss its tobacco-free targets by more than 16 years if current smoking trends continue. Figures from Cancer Research UK published today cast doom on Scottish Government targets to reduce the adult smoking rate to a maximum of five per cent by 2034.
The cancer charity claims that if current trends continue, the Scottish Government will not hit its ‘tobacco free generation’ target until after 2050.
The new projections suggest 12 per cent of adults will still smoke by that deadline if there is no change in the expected decline in smoking rates.
This means the smoking rate in Scotland will have to drop almost twice as fast as projected if the 2034 target is to be met, equating to 585,000 fewer smokers in 2034 compared with today.
Marion O’Neill, Cancer Research UK’s head of external affairs in Scotland, said smoking has a “catastrophic” impact on health and particularly affects economically deprived communities. She said: “This new analysis suggests that Scotland is not on track to achieve its 2034 smokefree target which is a concern. Indeed, if the Scottish Government is to achieve this welcome ambition and improve the nation’s health, much more needs to be done to accelerate progress.
“Smoking has a catastrophic impact on health. It’s enormously addictive and difficult to quit so more needs to be done to ensure people know about the support available to give up.
“Smoking also remains more common within poorer communities and the Scottish Government must take the lead to ensure that everyone, including those from disadvantaged groups, know about the help available.”
Ms O’Neill added: “When people access these services, they are around three-times more likely to be successful than going ‘cold turkey’. We also know that offering support to smokers who visit hospital works. Ensuring this is offered routinely will be vital if Scotland is to become smoke free. Quitting smoking reduces the risk of developing cancer compared with ongoing smoking. The benefits of a ‘tobacco free generation’ to public health and NHS budgets are unequivocal.” Figures form the Scottish Health Survey show that in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area 21 per cent of adults smoke cigarettes, two percentage points higher than the national average. And in 2017, around 1300 people were diagnosed with lung cancer in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board. In 2018, there were around 940 deaths from lung cancer. Currently, around 4100 people die of lung cancer every year in Scotland.
Cancer Research UK says that for those who live in Scotland’s most deprived communities, which include areas of Glasgow, the target is likely to be reached even later. Cancer Research UK projections suggest the richest fifth of Scotland’s population could achieve smoke-free in 2034, but the poorest fifth will have not even crossed the 10 per cent mark by 2050.
The charity believes the 2034 target will only be met if the Scottish Government takes a lead to ensure all smokers who visit hospital are routinely offered support to quit. Other measures, including greater awareness, promotion and access to free Quit Your Way smoking cessation services, will also be vital.
The new projections have been released by Cancer Research UK ahead of next month’s No Smoking Day drive on March 11 to encourage people to make a quit attempt.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We welcome the recommendations made by Cancer Research UK which endorses many of our current plans, such as evaluating the tobacco control action plan and providing ongoing smoking cessation support across all healthcare settings.
“Smoking prevalence in Scotland continues to fall and we remain determined to create a tobaccofree generation by 2034.”