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.

ASH Wales’ Response: Cancer Research UK Research Reveals 4 in 10 Cancers Could be Preventable with Lifestyle Changes

New research released today by Cancer Research UK (CRUK) shows that over 7,000 cancer cases per year in Wales are preventable, amounting to 140 per week.

Smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, weight and sunbed usage are the main causes of cancers which would otherwise be avoided – equating to almost four in 10 diagnoses, says CRUK.

15% of these avoidable cases were due to smoking, the highest percentage out of any of the lifestyle choices.

Suzanne Cass, Chief Executive of tobacco control charity ASH Wales, said: “It’s a shocking statistic that 38% of every cancer diagnosis in Wales is due to a lifestyle activity, such as smoking. Cancer Research UK’s stats show we still have a long way to go here in Wales to stop more people from becoming a statistic themselves. To do this we need strong policies, such as smokefree spaces for everyone to enjoy, and national campaigns to highlight the harms of tobacco.

“We know smoking kills almost half of its long-term users, however the majority of smokers do want to quit this killer habit. The support is out there for anyone wanting to stop smoking – the NHS in Wales offers a free stop smoking service called Help Me Quit, who are just one text or call away.”

To get free, local, and tailored advice visit www.helpmequit.wales, text ‘HMQ’ to 80818 or phone 08000 852 219.

Take the Challenge and Be a Quitter this No Smoking Day

Today (Wednesday 14th March) marks the 35th national No Smoking Day, challenging smokers to be a quitter for 24 hours.

The annual day, which sees around 700,000 attempted quits across the UK, encourages smokers to give no smoking a go for one day in the hope they will eventually feel ready to quit for good.

Currently in Wales, 19% of adults and 9% of 15/16-year olds smoke regularly. A recent survey showed that 64% of all smokers would like to give up, 44% have tried and 7% of people currently use an e-cigarette.

The unknown of what to expect when stopping smoking often puts off would-be quitters but that’s where No Smoking Day comes in, giving smokers an insight into what to expect when they finally go smokefree. Picking a specific date to quit, such as No Smoking Day, also means quitters are more likely to stay smokefree as they’re mentally ready for the challenge.

Tobacco control campaign group ASH Wales Cymru have created a timeline looking at what happens to the body during the 24 hours of No Smoking Day.

  • 20 minutes: After just 20 minutes of that last cigarette the body begins to recover. Nicotine, the addictive bit of smoking, is a stimulant which gives the body that ‘hit’, but this only lasts for a matter of minutes. Not long after the last puff of smoke, heart rate and blood pressure return to normal following this high.
  • 8 hours: This is the testing time when most quitters reach for another cigarette. The effects of withdrawal are strong as nicotine leaves the bloodstream and cravings start to increase. A top tip is to find something to keep the mind and hands distracted – fiddle with a pen and pick up a crossword!
  • 12 hours: Oxygen levels return to normal as poisonous smoke leaves the blood and body. It is this smoke which is the killer part of smoking, causing 1 in 2 long-term smokers to die from the addictive habit.
  • 24 hours: Anxiety and ‘stress’ levels peak. The feeling of stress associated with quitting smoking isn’t really stress – it’s a sign of withdrawal. It’s untrue that smoking de-stresses – it just feeds a craving. In fact, research shows non- and ex-smokers

Quitting smoking has enormous long-term benefits too as making it 10 years smokefree will see an ex-smoker’s risk of lung cancer, one of the most likely harms to a smoker’s life, become half that of a smoker. It’s great news for the heart as well; after 10 years smokefree the chance of a heart attack becomes the same as a non-smoker.

ASH Wales’ Chief Executive, Suzanne Cass, said: “No Smoking Day is a fantastic opportunity for smokers to give quitting a try and hopefully spur them on to say goodbye to tobacco for good. With thousands of others taking part of the day, would-be quitters can be reassured they’re not alone and there’s lots of great support out there, like with Help Me Quit, to keep them motivated throughout the day.

“Over 5,000 people die every single year in Wales from preventable illnesses caused by smoking. Every event like No Smoking Day or Stoptober which helps tackle this shocking statistic are crucially important and must be supported across Wales.”

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.

Sniffer dogs help crack down on illegal tobacco in Wales

Specialist tobacco detection dogs will take to the streets of Cardiff on Friday (4th March) to encourage the public to get involved in the fight against illegal tobacco in Wales.

The illegal tobacco market makes up 15% of all tobacco sales in Wales, the highest in the UK. These cheap products make it easier for children to start smoking, as it is sold at pocket money prices by criminals who don’t care about age-restriction laws.

As part of No Smoking Day activities, ASH Wales Cymru will be joined by tobacco sniffer dogs, Scamp, Phoebe and Yoyo, at the Illegal Tobacco Mobile Unit at junction of Queen Street and Churchill Way (outside the entrance to the Capitol Centre).

The dogs, which are all ex-rescue dogs, have helped officers sniff out thousands of pounds worth of illegal tobacco, which is often hidden behind fake walls or in other unusual, concealed locations.

ASH Wales Cymru research has shown that information about where illegal tobacco is being sold often comes via reports from the community. The Illegal Tobacco Unit aims to help educate the public about what illegal tobacco looks like, what the dangers are and encourages them to keep their eyes open and report illegal tobacco being sold in their neighbourhood.

All tobacco is harmful, but illegal tobacco is a further risk to our children and communities, because it is sold so cheaply by criminals who are not interested in asking for proof of age.

We know from our research that 15% of the tobacco market in Wales is illegal compared with the UK average of 9%.

We’re not just talking about shops, younger people are more likely to visit “fag houses” to buy cigarettes or hand-rolling tobacco. This can mean they regularly come into contact with adults who might also be selling unlicensed alcohol, drugs or who might take the opportunity to exploit the relationship that develops.

We know that most adult smokers started when they were underage. The availability of cheap illegal tobacco gives children the opportunity to start a long-term and potentially deadly habit. If you know where it is being sold, please report it today”

Suzanne Cass, Chief Executive of ASH Wales Cymru

The sale of illegal tobacco is a serious criminal offence that can result in very large fines and imprisonment. Anyone wishing to report the selling of illegal tobacco can report anonymously by calling the Illegal Tobacco Hotline on 0300 999 0000 or by contacting their local Trading Standards Department.

3 Free Apps To Help You Quit Smoking

With millions of free apps in the reach of your fingertips, you can find an app for just about everything, including apps to help you quit smoking. We tried three free apps and now we want to share with you what we discovered!

1) Smoke Free

Our first pick of the apps to help you quit will greet you with a simple and clean design. The dashboard will show you the amount of time you have been a non-smoker for, money saved (which can be automatically linked with money saving app called Chip), your health improvement, progress and achievements. You have an option to share all of these on social media.

The diary feature lets you keep track of your cravings and money spent on NRT/e-cigs. You can also comment on each of the entries. Your cravings can be tracked by a graph in the cravings tab, which also includes quit tips. On the bottom of the page you can find recommendations for counselling therapists, prescription treatment or even games you can download on our phone to distract you from a craving.

You can mark your completed “missions” on another tab. 8 of these missions are free, but you can get over 30 if you upgrade to Pro version. There is also a tab that contains badges which you get for each day you stay Smokefree. The Smoke Free app is available for both Android and Apple iOS.

2) QuitNow!

The QuitNow! App will greet you with a funky colourful design full of funny illustrations. At first, it will ask you to fill up how many cigarettes you used to smoke a day, what is the price of a cigarette pack and the time you quit. You can also back up all this data on Facebook. The home page is split into sections. On the top of the page, you will see how much time you have been Smokefree, how many cigarettes you avoided and how much money you have saved. Another interesting stat will tell you how much time you “won back” by not smoking.

Underneath that, you can see your achievements. There are many achievements like saving up for a weekend trip or being a non-smoker for two weeks. Each of the achievements is accompanied with a funny illustration that unlocks once you have complete your “mission”.

The community is probably what makes this app unique from the other two apps to help you quit. Once you have created your own profile, you will be able to access a chat. There you can talk with other people that are in the same situation as you. The community seems to be active, so it is very possible that you will find people that can help you out.

The health page will show you all the good physical effects that quitting smoking had on your body with simple bars that fill up over time. This app is free, although it will nag you to buy a pro version and unlock more features. You can download it on Android or Apple iOS.

3) Kwit

Last one from apps to help you quit that we are reviewing has a clean and rather minimalistic design. On the top of the first page, you can see round icon with your achieved level (starting as a Novice). If you click at the tiny icon on the left from it, it will give you a quick quit tip. Underneath you will see bars with health, wellbeing, time, money and cigarettes not smoked.

Your dashboard will show you the time you have been a “kwitter”, cigarettes not smoked and money saved. All this information can be shared on social media. Achievements are split into Health, Wellbeing, Time, Money and Cigarettes. These have levels and unlock automatically with time. There is another tag called Willpower, but this one is only for Pro users.

It doesn’t seem to keep track of cravings and there doesn’t seem to be anything keeping track of e-cigarettes or cigarettes smoked while you tried to quit, so it seems that it will be most useful for those quitting cold turkey and wanting just a bit more motivation. This App is for Android and Apple iOS.

Which of these apps to help you quit will work best?

There are many more apps to help you quit that you can find. It is completely up to you which one will fit you the best. These three seem to have the best, cleanest and most intuitive design. They also have many free features, although you may choose to pay a little bit of money and get a pro version (Smoke Free offers Premium Version for free for 7 days!) This seems to be much better than some other free apps that will annoy you with pop up adverts every time you click on something.

But which one to choose then? We would recommend Smoke Free for those that love statistics and graphs. Smoke Free is also the only one that lets you make diary entries which allows you to make notes and map your progress in your own words. It is also the only one that allows you to keep track of money spent on NRT or e-cigarettes and helps you to keep track of cravings. The only downside is that it doesn’t let you engage with the community such as the QuitNow! app which can be a disadvantage. Some people might also find QuitNow! more uplifting because of the funny illustrations it offers.

All of these apps to help you quit are for free, so you can just get them for your phone and decide for yourself which one works the best (it may not even be one of those three!). And if you do find some of the apps helpful, feel free to share your success with us on our Instagram or Facebook