12 Tobacco Control. Key Points. Nationally the highest prevalence of smoking in adults is still between years. Figure 1

Transcription

1 Key Points Although smoking rates in young people continues to fall, work to advise on tobacco information and support to stop smoking within schools, still remains a key issue. Stop smoking advice and support should be underpinned by strategic tobacco control policy development and implementation. Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death and kills almost half of its long term users. Nationally the highest prevalence of smoking in adults is still between years Smoking continues to be the leading cause of preventable death and is the single biggest cause of health inequalities between socio-economic groups in the UK. Smoking is responsible for 80% of respiratory illnesses and is linked to many cancers. Smoking tobacco kills 50% of its long term users. In 2009 around 81,400 deaths in England were estimated to be caused by smoking. Smoking increases the likelihood of cot death and lower birth weight in babies. Babies exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to have coughs and colds, asthma attacks and middle-ear disease. Current smoking rates in England stand at around 21%, with the rates for routine and manual workers and hard to reach groups range around 26 to 29%. In Milton Keynes the prevalence is estimated to be similar to the national figures. Nationally the highest prevalence of smoking in adults is still between 25 to 34 years (figure 1). Stopping smoking reduces the smoker s health risks and also reduces the health risks for those who live with them. Figure 1 Percentages Prevalence of cigarette smoking among adults, by age group, 1980 and and over all adults 84 Adult Ages Source: Central Lifestyle Survey The Office for National Statistics. *Application of national rates to local population structure.

2 Smoking continues to be the leading cause of preventable death Milton Keynes Stop Smoking Service In 2009/10 757,537 people in England sought help from NHS Stop Smoking Services (a 13% increase on 2008/9) and 49% (11% increase on 2008/9) successfully quit at four weeks (Statistics on NHS Stop Smoking Services:England 2010). The NHS Milton Keynes Stop Smoking Services are provided through GP practices and participating pharmacies. All GP practices in Milton Keynes now provide a service where an appointment can be made within a maximum of five days from the point of referral. The service is free and medication is available at prescription charges. The stop smoking sessions are provided on a one-to-one basis and provide intensive pharmacological and psychological support together with advice. Patients may self-refer through their GP reception or participating pharmacy or can be referred through hospitals, schools, workplaces and children s centres. NHS Milton Keynes will further strengthen the Stop Smoking Services during 2011 to provide more accessible venues at a wider variety of times. This will be a seven day a week service operating early mornings and evenings, provided by GP practices and participating pharmacies. Milton Keynes Alliance (TCA) The Government recommends that tobacco control alliances increase awareness of the harms of tobacco and encourages the de-normalising of tobacco use. This can encourage people to access stop smoking services and supports young people to make healthy lifestyle choices, including not taking up the use of tobacco. The TCA s aim to educate on the risks of using tobacco, motivate tobacco users to think about quitting and provide advice on how to quit in the most effective ways. People are four times more likely to quit with NHS Stop Smoking Services 12 85

3 Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death and kills The Government also recommends that communities are encouraged to see not smoking as the norm and for TCAs to communicate information about second-hand smoke and how to make their homes and family cars smoke-free. Milton Keynes Alliance was formed in early 2009 and now has a dynamic and diverse membership. The aim of the TCA is to forge partnerships with influential groups and stakeholders such as Milton Keynes Council, NHS Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue, the Public Safety Partnership, Healthy Schools, MK Bar watch and the commercial and voluntary sector. A Milton Keynes tobacco strategy has now been developed to underpin further work by the TCA. almost half of its long term users smoke free legislation. At present approximately 6% of all smokers access stop smoking services nationally (A Smoke Free Future 2010). The task is therefore to raise awareness of the available services, alongside the awareness of the harms of tobacco. The goal of the National Strategy is a future free from tobacco use which will mean that our children will not die early from smoking related diseases. The three main objectives that we will now work towards are: The Alliance aims to address the recommendations of the National Strategy (2010), the Plan for England (2011) and the Health Act (2009). The aims of the strategy are to reduce underage sales through vending machines, the introduction of plain packaging and the ending of point of sale displays in shops and supermarkets (A Smoke Free Future 2010). From April 2012 tobacco items should not be visible in larger shops and by 2013 in smaller shops. Cigarette vending machines will not be available after The TCA works collectively to raise the profile of the smoking services in Milton Keynes and to promote an understanding of Stop the recruitment of new young smokers. Support every smoker to quit. Protect families and communities. Stop the recruitment of new young smokers Youth smoking prevalence rates has declined in the ten years between 1998 and 2008 but there is still much to be done. Young people are more likely to smoke if their families and friends smoke. One in seven 15 year olds is a regular smoker and most smokers start young. 86

4 Three in ten children aged 11 to 15, have tried smoking at least once and 6% of children were regular smokers (smoking at least one cigarette a week) in Girls were more likely to smoke than boys (10% of girls compared to 8% of boys). In Milton Keynes, our objective in line with government aspirations is to reduce smoking in 11 to 15 year olds (the national average is at present 6%) and in 16 to 17 year olds (the national average rate is 16%) by 50% by Funding from the Strategic Health Authority has enabled NHS Milton Keynes, MK TCA and secondary schools in Milton Keynes to provide an opportunity for tobacco information training for selected secondary school staff during The training for school staff is designed to help students in secondary education to develop an understanding of the tobacco industry and issues such as illicit and counterfeit tobacco. Three hundred students attended these tutorials at Milton Keynes College during A programme is being designed to develop a cohesive training package in tobacco control and stop smoking advice for in-house staff in secondary schools. This will create opportunities for students to acquire knowledge regarding cigarette ingredients, advertising structures, economics, how not to start smoking and also how to find help to stop smoking. The assistance will be provided by in-house staff at the schools trained and accredited by NHS Milton Keynes. A programme is being designed to develop a cohesive training package in tobacco control and stop smoking advice for in house staff in secondary schools 87

5 Figure 2 Number of Quitters per 100,000 population Berkshire East No. of successful quitters per 100,000 of population aged 16 and over. Financial Year 2009/10 England Average (895) Berkshire West Buckinghamshire Hampshire Isle of Wight Milton Keynes Oxford Portsmouth City Teaching Southampton City Source: statistics on NHS stop smoking services: England, April 2009 March 2010 Milton Keynes Stop Smoking Service has a quit rate of over 55% Support every smoker to quit People are four times more likely to quit with NHS Stop Smoking Services than without assistance. In 2009/10 over 750,000 people in England set a quit date through NHS Stop Smoking Services. At the four-week follow up 49% had successfully stopped smoking. In 2009/10 approximately 4000 people set a quit date in Milton Keynes with over 2600 people who smoke quit at one month. Milton Keynes Stop Smoking Service has a quit rate of over 55% (figure 2). NHS Milton Keynes aims to continue to strengthen this very successful Stop Smoking Service in Protect families and communities Milton Keynes Stop Smoking Services partner with Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue to provide information about how to access the Stop Smoking Services at community events and during home safety checks. We are developing a training programme to enable staff working within children s centres and pre-schools to provide information to parents about smoking and the risks of tobacco use and secondhand smoke. Partnership working will ensure that the local authority will develop information given by Trading Standards and Environmental Health department during their contact with communities and families. 88

6 SMOKING KILLS Recommendations To utilise the funding from the Regional Strategic Health Authority to develop a tobacco information and stop smoking training programme for secondary schools. This will be evaluated in 2011 to indicate whether further work will be undertaken. To continue to create further opportunities for access to stop smoking clinics in Milton Keynes. This will enable a greater provision of support and advice to those who are working during the day and those who do not have easy access to transport. To further develop the work of the Milton Keynes Tobacco Alliance, actively encouraging new partners and stakeholders. References 1. Statistics on NHS Stop Smoking Services: England, April 2009 March The NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care (2010). Available at: 2. Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A Plan for England. HM Government Beyond Smoking Kills, Protecting Children, Reducing Inequalities. Action on Smoking and Health.2008.ISBN A Smokefree Future. A Comprehensive Strategy for England Department of Health publications 89