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Second anniversary of Scotland's smoking ban
25/03/2008
It is two years since Scotland banned smoking in enclosed public spaces.
Minister for Public Health Shona Robison today visited an innovative smoking cessation service in Forth Valley to mark the anniversary of the ban.
Based at the Stirling Royal Infirmary maternity unit, the service helps pregnant women give up smoking through stop smoking groups, nicotine replacement therapy and drop-in clinics with specialist support.
A pilot project in the area is also using carbon monoxide analysers to give information to women about their carbon monoxide levels, encouraging mothers to give up smoking or steer clear of smoky environments.
Operating a wide range of smoking cessation services, people using the services in Forth Valley are four times more likely to quit.
New figures also released today show 40,000 people attempted to give up smoking across Scotland last year.
The Scottish Government recently committed an additional thirty three million pounds over the next three years towards smoking cessation services. The age of sale of tobacco products was also raised from 16 to 18 years in October.
Ms Robison was introduced to four babies whose mothers had given up smoking while pregnant. She said:
"I am delighted to see the excellent work being done at the Stirling Royal Infirmary and especially the work they are doing to help pregnant mothers give up smoking.
"Great strides have been made in reducing the number of smokers in Scotland in recent years, and creating an environment which supports people to give up.
"However we can not rest on our laurels. Smoking remains the most important and preventable cause of ill-health and premature death in Scotland.
"It is really encouraging to see that thousands of people attempted to stop smoking last year. However we also recognise that there was a drop in that number compared to 2006.
"This is why our strategy for the future will not only support those remaining smokers to give up but also concentrates on discouraging people from taking up the habit in the first place.
"Later this year, I will be publishing a five year action plan for tackling smoking and this will focus on discouraging young people in particular, by making cigarettes and other tobacco products less accessible and less attractive.
"We will also be investing an additional thirty three million pounds over the next three years to enable NHS Boards to continue the good work already being done.
"I would encourage everyone who currently smokes to visit a cessation service and find out what help is available to help kick the habit for good."
The 2nd Anniversary of the Smoking Ban in Scotland falls on March 26, 2008.
Tobacco use kills 13,500 people in Scotland every year and remains Scotland's greatest public health challenge.
There were 1,231 quit attempts made by pregnant women during 2007. The Government is on track to meet its target to reduce smoking during pregnancy in the most deprived areas by 10 per cent from 35.8 per cent in 2003 to 32.2 per cent in 2008. Number of quit attempts data from ISD Scotland.