ASH Wales comment: Hospital Grounds, School Grounds and Playgrounds to be Smokefree in Wales by Summer 2019

Wales is set to be the first country in the UK to extend its smoking ban to outdoor areas, with smokefree areas expected to be in place in hospital grounds, school grounds and playgrounds by summer 2019.

Strengthening the laws around smoking in public in Wales will further protect non-smokers from second-hand smoke and de-normalise smoking for children and young people.

Suzanne Cass, Chief Executive of tobacco control campaign group ASH Wales Cymru, said: “This raft of smokefree legislation is the most important Wales has seen for our nation’s health since the indoor smoking ban in 2007. These laws are a major public health achievement and will further Wales’ profile as the UK lead in tobacco control measures.

With a classroom of young people still taking up smoking every day in Wales it is essential we make sure children do not see smoking as a normal, everyday activity. We must set positive examples wherever we can.

“Creating smokefree spaces for all, but especially where children and young people play and learn will have an impact on their future health-related habits. We know young people are highly influenced by what they see around them and children with one parent who smokes will be 70% more likely to become a smoker themselves.

“Support for banning smoking at communal outdoor spaces – such as at hospital grounds, school grounds and playgrounds – is high in Wales. A 2017 YouGov poll showed that 71% agree smoking should be banned in hospital grounds, 61% agree with banning smoking in recreational spaces such as parks and beaches and an overwhelming 83% think smoking should be banned at children’s playgrounds, including 56% of smokers.

“We, as well as organisations such as Cancer Research UK and British Heart Foundation, have worked tirelessly over the past few years to provide strong evidence to support the tobacco control aspects which will now come in next summer.”

Read more: ASH Wales Welcomes New Laws Protecting Children from Smoking (May 2017)

Myth-busting: smoking and stress relief #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek

This post is mostly taken from a 2017 blog written by our sister organisation ASH Scotland’s Chief Executive Sheila Duffy (in “…”), with relevant additions by ASH Wales.

This year’s Mental Health Awareness week runs from 14th to 20th May and its theme centres around tackling stress, often linked to smoking.

A survey by the Mental Health Foundation found that around 74% of people in the UK felt so stressed in the past year they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope1. Raising awareness around stress as a mental health factor should be congratulated – weeks like this encourage and give individuals the knowledge to prevent stress in the first place and it provokes conversations around tackling the societal factors behind such high rates of stress.

In 2016-17, around 36% of adults in Wales with a mental illness smoked2, compared to 19% among the general population3. Between 2008 to 2015, this figure barely changed in Wales4; and this is especially concerning when compared to falling rates for the general population. People with mental ill health smoke more than a third of the tobacco consumed in the UK5 and smoking is the biggest contributor to people with mental ill health dying 10 to 20 years earlier than the general population6. Yet tragically, although many people smoke to alleviate stress and symptoms of mental illness, the evidence suggests smoking does not help and may even harm long-term anxiety and mental health outcomes.

This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week – recognising the importance of tackling stress and finding healthy evidence-backed ways to deal with it – goes to the heart of why mental health is so important to ASH Wales’s work to reduce the harm and inequality caused by smoking.

“We ourselves may not be best placed to help reduce the pressures, stresses and strains in life which contribute to mental ill health. We do, however, have something important to say about smoking as the coping mechanism that so many people automatically reach for.”

“I am not at all surprised that people reach for a cigarette at times of need. The public image of smoking has moved on from the glamour and sophistication of the golden age of Hollywood. Smoking still features prominently in the media but is now often used as shorthand to signify someone in distress, sucking in relief through a tobacco straw.”

“Personal experience often reinforces this image. Whatever complicated morass of deep breaths, concentration, familiar routine and relief of nicotine cravings is actually taking place, the take-away memory will be that smoking has helped relieve stress.”

“Finally, there is the extraordinary ease of access to cigarettes. Six decades after the proof that smoking kills, and for all the talk of tough government restrictions on smoking, cigarettes remain ubiquitous in our society, sold without license in every corner shop, garage and supermarket at an average price of 35p each. Imagine a world where other, less harmful, coping mechanisms were as visible and readily available?”

Whatever the immediate impression, the evidence suggests that smoking does not relieve mental ill health in the long-run7; despite this myth having been perpetuated by the tobacco industry8. Many research papers find it may even be harmful to mental health in the long run9,10 and as well as to physical health.

“It is easy to be misled by the apparent calming effects, but it should come as no surprise that the psychological boom-bust of nicotine cravings does not enhance overall mental well-being. Nor does the financial cost, or being out of breath or in pain, contribute to reducing anxiety.”

“The fact that smoking limits the effectiveness of many medications, leading to increased dosage and side effects, was the chief concern expressed by mental health services users we recently consulted with.”

We now know that stopping smoking is associated with improved mental health11,12, especially if supported with relevant mental health treatment13. Most people with mental health issues who smoke say they want to stop, so shouldn’t those people be offered stop smoking support as quickly and easily as psychotropic medications?

“We do have work to do in exploring and developing the alternative, less harmful, coping mechanisms that can help people build resilience in the face of their problems. Yoga or mindfulness may be great, but only if you are someone who will do yoga or mindfulness. For others it might be knitting, computer games, an e-cigarette, walking, Facebook, or phoning a friend.”

“Every individual’s situation is different, the needs they are trying to address will be different, and the alternatives to smoking that might work for them will be different. What could make the difference is a conversation, centred on the individual, their needs, and the approaches available for them to consider and try.”

“That kind of discussion takes time, but support staff already have the skills. Smoking is the biggest contributor to people with mental health issues dying 10-20 years earlier than the general population. Surely it merits a conversation?”

Further reading:

Smokers Encouraged to Quit for Holy Month of Ramadan

Smokers celebrating Ramadan are being encouraged to get support and advice to quit smoking for the holy month which begins today (Tuesday 15th May).

Ramadan is an annual event in the Islamic calendar and it is most well-known as the time when Muslims abstain from eating, drinking and smoking from sunrise to sunset.

Known as fasting, it is forbidden for anything to reach the stomach during daylight hours. This inspires self-restraint and time to reflect, bringing worshippers closer to their God, Allah.

Quitting smoking is the best thing anyone can do for their health with 1 in 2 long-term smokers dying from a smoking-related illness. In Wales, 19% of the population currently smoke.

Help Me Quit is Wales’ free NHS service offering one-to-one advice on the phone and in person or group support to anyone wanting to kick the habit. Help Me Quit can also recommend which nicotine replacements, such as patches or gum, are most suitable and they can direct would-be quitters to get help from their GP or local pharmacy for free.

Thousands of people quit for good with the help of NHS services every year and studies show that smokers are up to four times more likely to quit successfully if they use a combination of stop smoking medication and specialist support, such as with Help Me Quit.

Chief Executive of tobacco control charity ASH Wales, Suzanne Cass, said:“Ramadan is a fantastic opportunity for Muslims who are looking to stop smoking to finally make that hard step.

“Any amount of time smokefree gives the body – especially the lungs and bloodstream – the time to breathe again and take in the clean air needed to recover.”

“Here in Wales we have a flexible and welcoming stop smoking support service, Help Me Quit, who are just a click or a phone call away. Quitters can also pop into their local pharmacy or chat to their GP to find the best way of quitting for their circumstances.” To get free, local, and tailored advice visit www.helpmequit.wales, text ‘HMQ’ to 80818 or phone 08000 852 219.

Quit Support for Swansea Smokers in New GP Scheme

GPs and practice staff across City and Bay Health in Swansea are taking part in a new pilot project offering free breath tests and support for smokers to help them quit.

There are around 20,000 smokers living in the City and Bay Health areas, but the latest figures show less than 3% of these are accessing Wales’ free stop smoking service Help Me Quit every year.

Tobacco control charity ASH Wales has created the new project to help GPs and practice staff to increase the number of would-be quitters getting the right support and nicotine replacement for them.

Smokers who are supported by specialist services, like through their GP or local pharmacy, are four times more likely to stay quit than those who go it alone.

In partnership with pharmaceutical company Pfizer, ASH Wales have provided 27 GP surgeries with ‘smoke’ breath monitors; hand-held devices which take just a matter of seconds to show a patient the current level of carbon monoxide – poisonous smoke – in their body.

Using a colour-coded traffic light system, patients can see the amount of damage they are doing to their bodies, acting as a powerful motivator to think about acting to conquer their habit.

Dr Kirstie Truman, Lead GP for the Bay Health Cluster, said: “Smoking has a devastating effect on the lives of so many of our patients, causing cancer, lung disease and heart problems. Working together to support smokers to stop will help reduce the number of people developing these fatal diseases.

“Allowing patients to see the level of carbon monoxide in their lungs will hopefully prompt them to seek nicotine replacement therapies and stop smoking. The best possible thing for anyone’s lungs is to quit smoking and to stay away from others smoking around them. Quitting smoking isn’t easy but there’s free support and advice available.”

Research shows near 70% of all smokers want to quit but finding information and getting the right advice can be a crucial part of that stop smoking journey.

Wales’ dedicated stop smoking service Help Me Quit has recently expanded the choices offered to smokers with the majority of local pharmacies in the area now offering one-to-one support.

Chief Executive of ASH Wales, Suzanne Cass, said: “It’s a shocking fact that almost half of all long-term smokers will die from a smoking-related disease. Anything we can do to bring down these worryingly high statistics is vital.

“We’re delighted to be working with so many GPs from across City and Bay Health – every waiting room across these areas will now have information prompting smokers to ask about their free CO test. We must give smokers every opportunity, such as a trip the doctor’s, to get advice and support that could help them quit.”

Latest statistics show that if current trends continue and no additional action is taken the national target of 16% of adults smoking by 2020 will not be met. According to recent figures by the Public Health Wales Observatory, the 16% target will instead be reached in 2025.

Smoking is the leading cause of cancer and the single largest preventable cause of illness and death in Wales, causing over 5,300 deaths every year. 19% of the Welsh adult population currently smoke but this rises to 21% for the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg area – equating to around 92,000 smokers.

The Help Me Quit service and website offers tailored advice specific to the needs of would-be quitters. To find out more call 0800 085 2219 or visit helpmequit.wales

If you live in the Swansea Bay or City areas, look out for signs in the waiting room of your GP surgery about how you can get your free CO test today.

ASH Wales Supports Submission to Select Committee Warning on Harms of UK’s On-Screen Smoking Habits

Tobacco control charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Wales is supporting a submission to the UK Government warning that smoking on TV and in films encourages children to take up smoking.

The submission to the Science and Technology Select Committee, sent jointly by ASH England and the UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol studies (UKCTAS), includes new YouGov results showing 81% of 11 to 15-year-olds and 88% of 16 to 18-year-olds have seen smoking in films. For TV, the stats were 68% for 11 to 15-year-olds and 77% of 16 to 18-year-olds.

One of the worst offenders for not only showing smoking but also branded packs was the young person’s reality TV favourite, Love Island. The show created an estimated 47 million tobacco-related impressions on children aged under 16.

The submission also includes new figures from Cancer Research UK showing that despite declines in smoking prevalence, many young people are still taking up smoking. Between 2014 and 2016 around 127,000 children a year started smoking for the first time in England, equivalent to 17 classrooms of secondary school children a day. In Wales this figure stands at 30 children a day. Research shows that over 60% of those who try smoking go on to become regular smokers.

Suzanne Cass, Chief Executive of ASH Wales, said: “A classroom full of children take up smoking every day here in Wales. Young people are the tobacco industry’s key target since they are the only ones who can replace their lifelong, but dying, customers. Most adult smokers started the habit as a teen, at an age when they were most impressionable.

“Smoking adverts have been banned for many years on TV and at cinemas. It is hard not to question why we are seeing such a rapid rise in the obvious placement of tobacco products, especially among young person-specific programmes.”

The percentage of Oscar-nominated films containing smoking rose dramatically in 2018 – up to 86% from 60% four years ago. The Churchill biopic ‘Darkest Hour’ (rated PG, meaning general viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children) had the highest smoking prevalence of any film.

Wales’ Only Youth Stop Smoking Project Shuts Down

Wales’ only dedicated stop smoking service for young people is coming to an end today (Thursday 29th March) after five years supporting thousands of teenagers.

ASH Wales’ “The Filter” project, which tackles smoking among teenagers in hard to reach areas where prevalence is highest, will cease due to a lack of funding.

The project was established in 2013 with Big Lottery Funding and due to its success was subsequently funded by Welsh Government for a further 2 years.

In the past five years smoking rates among 15 to 16-year-olds in Wales has fallen from 13.5% down to 8.5%, however a classroom of children still take up smoking every day in Wales.

In total The Filter project has engaged with 12,500 young people at 250 events and delivered hundreds of out-of-school workshops. In addition, 800 youth work professionals have been trained to educate others about the deadly habit.

The Filter’s most popular workshop, Commit to Quit, saw young people taking on a 6-week challenge to either reduce the amount they smoked or quit altogether. Last year alone the team worked in more than 40 youth provisions and helped 120 teenagers to quit smoking.

Overall, the Commit to Quit team worked with more than 650 young smokers from across Wales with 66% of those who set a quit date stopping smoking completely – this compares with a 42% quit rate within adult services.

Teenager Kathleen Davies, who took part in Commit to Quit programme when she was 17, had started smoking when she was just 11 years old. She said: “My grandad died from throat cancer after smoking and my dad is very sick after smoking for 40 years. I promised my dad I would give up and that was it.”

Kathleen’s carbon monoxide (smoke) levels were monitored weekly to check her progress. In week one she blew 29 on the monitor – an incredible high reading and that of a heavy smoker. But by week three Kathleen was scoring a ‘2’ which is equivalent to a non-smoker.

Cheyane, aged 15 from Merthyr, was quick to thank The Filter team for the part they played on helping her to quit: “I started smoking when I was 13, my friends were all doing it and I sort of got peer pressured into it. I quit smoking using The Filter and it wasn’t difficult to quit with their help – they were very supportive… they pushed me and gave me the support I needed. I started the CO on 15 and went down to a 4!”

The national target to reduce adult smoking to 16% of the population by 2020 is unlikely to be achieved if no additional action is taken and current trends persist.

According to the latest figures from the Public Health Wales Observatory, the 16% target will instead be reached in 2025.

Suzanne Cass, Chief Executive of ASH Wales, said: “as Wales’ only dedicated service supporting young people to quit smoking we are saddened to see this life-changing project cease. Our team have been working in those areas where help is needed most.

“We must not forget smoking rates among the ‘least deprived’ adults in Wales stands at 9% versus 28% among the ‘most deprived’ – representing a 19% difference. The young people we have been working with are usually from the ‘less well off’ areas. These young people must not be left behind there must be tailored interventions to steer them away from tobacco.”

“The key to the success of this programme has been the informal approach, engaging young people in their regular meeting places such as youth clubs and training centres.”

The Filter’s social media accounts will no longer be active however its website thefilterwales.org will remain, hosting information on a variety of smoking-related topics such as second-hand smoke and smoking around pets.

The NHS offers a free stop smoking service in Wales called Help Me Quit. Smokers are four times more likely to stay smokefree with support than if they go it alone. To get free, local, and tailored advice visit www.helpmequit.wales, text ‘HMQ’ to 80818 or phone 08000 852 219.