'Too Many Smokers' In Fife's Poorest Areas

The number of smokers in Scotland has fallen, but is still too high in deprived areas.

1 in 3 adults from the poorest parts of Scotland smoke, as opposed to 1 in 10 from more affluant areas. The Scottish health minister says more needs to be done to cut health inequalities faced by the poorest in the country.

4% of adults in the poorest areas of Fife are smokers.

Commenting on the overall drop in Smokers across Scotland, James Cant, Director at British Heart Foundation Scotland, said: "Smokers are almost twice as likely to have a heart attack compared with people who have never smoked. And our compelling new campaign, launched on TV and online this week, shows just how devastating a heart attack can be to your loved ones.

"It’s brilliant to hear that fewer adults are smoking – Scotland’s hearts will be healthier as a result – but there’s still a lot of work to be done to help people quit and to discourage people from starting."

Chief Executive of health charity ASH Scotland, Sheila Duffy, said: "Such a substantial reduction in the smoking rate suggests that fewer young people are taking up smoking and more adult smokers are quitting. This is a significant step on the road towards a tobacco-free Scotland and leaves many more people in Scotland in better shape to avoid cancer, heart disease, stroke, dementia and the range of other harms caused by tobacco.
 
"And reducing smoking rates is an effective means of tackling poverty. This survey suggests a 5% reduction in the smoking rate amongst the poorest 20%. That translates into an extra £50million every year in the pockets of the poorest people in our society."