Smoking rates in Bolton reached a record low, new figures show – and ‘reflect the hard work that has gone into supporting residents to stop smoking’.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show 14.2 per cent of adults in Bolton smoked in 2022 – down from 18.4 per cent the year before and the lowest rate since records began for the area in 2012.

In 2002  shocking statistics showed that the habit was  killing more people in Bolton than virtually anywhere else in the country.

The town was highlighted as having one of the highest death rates for smoking related lung cancer, heart disease and strokes.

Men in Bolton were more likely to be smokers at 15.7 per cent compared to 12.6 per cent of women in the area last year.

Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Adult's Services, Health and Wellbeing, Cllr Linda Thomas, said: “These figures are a positive sign and reflect the hard work that has gone into supporting residents to stop smoking.

“This ranges from offering support for individuals who want to quit and to stay smokefree, to taking enforcement action to tackle underage sales and illicit tobacco.

“While the numbers are moving in the right direction, there is still more to be done to reduce smoking rates in Bolton.

“Smoking damages health, its impacts disproportionately affect our most deprived communities and passive smoking can seriously harm others, especially children.

“Bolton residents can find out about local support and get help to stop smoking by visiting nhs.uk/better-health.”

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust this year launched a service to help patients give up smoking.

The trust, like others in Greater Manchester, has joined "The Cure Project", a new tobacco dependency treatment service.

All patients who smoke that are admitted to the Royal Bolton Hospital will be offered support to go smoke free with free nicotine replacement and expert behavioural support from a team of specialist nurses.

When leaving hospital, patients can then choose to either continue with the treatment with the support of their local pharmacy.

Bolton’s figures follow trends across England, where the national rate of smokers reached 12.7 per cent, the lowest level on record.

Across the UK, smoking among adults also fell to its lowest level of 12.9 per cent last year – a drop on the 13.3 per cent reported in 2021.

The data also revealed men in the UK were more likely to smoke, with 14.6 per cent using cigarettes in 2022 compared to 11.2 per cent of women.

James Tucker, head of health analysis at the ONS, said the figure is "consistent with the continuing trend towards a decline in smoking prevalence over recent years".

However, Deborah Arnott, Action on Smoking and Health chief executive, said: "Smoking rates are falling, but not nearly fast enough to deliver on the Government’s ambition of 5 per cent or less by 2030.

“Financial stress and poor mental health are on the rise, which we know makes it harder for smokers to quit."

She added the Government must "step up" its support for smokers by investing in campaigns to motivate smokers to quit and discourage young people to start.

The ONS figures for England also showed 5.2 per cent of people aged over 16 used e-cigarettes daily in 2022, up from 4.9 per cent in 2021.

Ms Arnott said the growth in vaping among adult smokers and ex-smokers was welcome as vaping is a very successful aid to quitting smoking.

However, she added there is a worrying growth in vaping among teens and young adults with 15.5 per cent of young people aged 16 to 24 years vaping daily or occasionally last year.

She said: "The Government’s response to the consultation on youth vaping due imminently must contain concrete measures to prohibit child-friendly branding and put products out of sight and out of reach in shops, as well as a tax on the pocket money priced disposable vapes most popular with children."

The Department of Health and Social Care said it is looking to "balance the public health opportunities vaping offers to smokers, while protecting young people and non-smokers from using them".

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