More Scots are cutting it out

Thousands more quit smoking but still work to be done

The number of Scots who successfully gave up smoking for at least a month has exceeded targets by more than 50 per cent. Figures released yesterday by ISD Scotland show the smoking cessation target to deliver 80,000 one month quits were exceeded by 56 per cent with 124,734 people giving up the habit between 1 April 2011 and 31 March 2014.

A target of 48,000 quits in Scotland’s most deprived areas was also exceeded, with 70,162 saying they had given up.

In total, across NHS Scotland there were 332,285 quit attempts made over the last three years with 195,355 of these attempts made in the 40 per cent most deprived areas.

Over the three year period, 13 of the 14 NHS boards met their target with some exceeding it by more than 60 per cent.

Michael Matheson, Minister for Public Health, said: “Giving up smoking is the single best thing anyone can do to improve their health. That is why we welcome these latest figures, showing NHS smoking cessation services are continuing to deliver positive results.

“While it’s encouraging to see target numbers exceeded, we are not complacent. Smoking rates are higher in deprived areas, contributing to health inequalities. We will continue to work to reach out to people in these communities and to help them to quit. We have also introduced a new target for NHS Scotland to support successful quits in our most deprived communities.”

Smoking has long been recognised as the biggest single cause of preventable ill-health and premature death. The Scottish Government is tackling the harm caused by tobacco use and last year set out a challenging Tobacco Control Strategy create a tobacco-free generation by 2034.

Have you managed to kick the habit? How did you do it? Let us know!