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Dr Oyinlola Oyebode comments on the news that smoking rates in England have fallen to the lowest on record

Dr Oyinlola Oyebode, Public Health Expert at Warwick Medical School comments on the news that smoking rates in England have fallen to the lowest on record,

'It is wonderful to hear that the latest Annual Population Survey has shown a reduction in the number of current smokers to the lowest on record at 16.9%. This is partly due to the best ever recorded quit-rate (a fifth of smokers who tried to give up were successful), but we also know, from the Health Survey for England, that the number of people who have never smoked a cigarette has gone up.

Those in manual jobs are still more likely to smoke, starting at a younger age and smoking more cigarettes. Smoking causes around 80% of deaths from lung cancer and more than a quarter of all cancer deaths, as well as 14% of deaths from heart disease. About half of all regular cigarette smokers will eventually be killed by their addiction. So with Stoptober coming up- maybe this news story will give current smokers more hope and more reason to make a quit attempt?'

Contact:

Alex Buxton

Media Relations Manager
Tel: 02476 150423
Mob: 07876 218166
a.buxton.1@warwick.ac.uk