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Proportion of smokers at lowest ever level
Around 6m adults in the UK smoked cigarettes last year , according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics ( ONS ). At just under 12 per cent of the population , this represents the lowest proportion of current smokers since records began . The highest proportion of smokers was found in the 25-34 age range ( 14 per cent ), while the biggest drop in smoking prevalence was among 18 to 24-year-olds , where the rate has fallen from more than 25 per cent in 2011 to less than 10 per cent . Meanwhile , more than 5m ( 9.8 per cent ) people currently use e-cigarettes either daily or occasionally .
In England , the highest average percentages of smokers by local authority area were in Fenland and Blackpool at 22.1 and 21.3 per cent respectively , with the lowest in St . Albans ( 5.7 per cent ) and Woking ( 5.3 per cent ). Last year in England 13.4 per cent of men smoked compared with 9.9 per cent of women , while the prevalence of adults who were exsmokers was just over 25 per cent compared to more than 63 per cent who had never smoked .
The tobacco and vapes bill – which aims to progressively increase the age at which people can legally buy cigarettes to create a ‘ smoke-free generation ’ – was included in this year ’ s King ’ s
Speech after being shelved by the previous government following the announcement of a summer election . The latest figures were ‘ further proof that the country is ready to be smokefree ,’ said ASH chief executive Hazel Cheeseman . ‘ There is cross-party support for ending the sale of tobacco and creating a generation free from the harms from smoking and government should bring forward the bill as soon as possible . Alongside creating a smokefree generation , the government must maintain the commitment of the last government to invest in support to help the 6m people currently smoking to quit .’
Meanwhile , a new briefing paper from the Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction ( GSTHR ) focuses on the UK ’ s ‘ remarkable shift ’ from tobacco to vaping . At current rates , the number of adults who smoke will have fallen to just over 10 per cent by next year while the number of vapers will continue to rise – meaning that vaping will overtake smoking for the first time , it says . ‘ When vaping overtakes smoking next year in the UK , it will not be simply the consequence of a consumer-led revolution , although this has been significant , it will also be the result of successive governments making pragmatic policy decisions based on the evidence in front of them ,’ said David MacKintosh , director of
Xylazine banned
THE GOVERNMENT is to ban the powerful non-opioid sedative xylazine , along with 21 other substances , it has announced .
A statutory instrument has been laid in Parliament to control the substance as a class C drug , following a recommendation from ACMD earlier this year ( DDN , March , page 4 ). While xylazine is approved for use as a sedative , muscle relaxant and analgesic in veterinary medicine , it is increasingly being used in combination with opioids as a ‘ cheap means of stretching out each dose ’ the government states . Known in the US as ‘ tranq ’ or ‘ tranq dope ’, especially when mixed with fentanyl or heroin , xylazine has been associated with dangerous side effects such
‘ There is cross-party support for ending the sale of tobacco and creating a generation free from the harms from smoking .’
HAZEL CHEESEMAN
KAC , which runs the GSTHR project . Maintaining a clear focus on reducing the use of combustible cigarettes provides an opportunity to achieve the ambitious 2030 “ smokefree ” target .’
Adult smoking habits in the UK : 2023 at www . ons . gov . uk A smokefree UK ? How research , policy and vapes have cut smoking rates at https :// gsthr . org /
as large skin ulcers . As it is not an opioid its effects cannot be reversed by naloxone in the case of an overdose , with the years 2018 to 2021 seeing the number of US xylazine-involved overdose deaths increase from just over 100 to almost 3,500 .
A recent report from King ’ s College London warned that the substance had now infiltrated the UK ’ s drug market and was no longer ‘ limited to heroin supplies ’ ( DDN , May , page 5 ).
Local News
BOWLED OVER A team from Start , Hartlepool ’ s substance misuse service , took on Hartlepool Cricket Club in a match as part of the town ’ s recent recovery festival . The aim was to help break down stigma and make the same progress mental health services have made in recent years , said volunteer coordinator Billy Knight .
BRISTOL BASH BDP is hosting a creative communities ten-year anniversary gala at Circomedia in Bristol on 10 October , with performers including Rising Voices Recovery Choir , Bristol Recovery Orchestra , Oi Polloi Theatre Group , Hip Hop Garden , Recovery in Motion and more . Contact creativecommunities @ bdp . org for more information .
RECOVERY JOURNEYS New Forest of Dean MP Matt Bishop paid a visit to Abbeycare Gloucester to find out about its detox and rehab facilities . ‘ The atmosphere at Abbeycare was filled with determination , and it was inspiring to see both the staff and residents dedicated to the journey of recovery ,’ he said . ash . org . uk
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