Overview

Although the number of people smoking is at its lowest level since records began, approximately 1 in 5 adults continue to smoke in England, and approximately 96,000 people die each year as a direct result of smoking. In Buckinghamshire, the number of smokers over 18 is 1 in 12.

Most smokers want to quit but find it difficult due to the heavily addictive nature of nicotine. Most adult smokers start smoking as children, making it a childhood decision that becomes an adult addiction. Smokers who start before the age of 15 are three times as likely to continue smoking in later life and are also more likely to be heavier smokers. Preventing children from starting smoking is key to reducing the long-term harm, both physical and mental, caused by smoking in our society.

Tobacco and tobacco products are age-restricted items; it is illegal to sell or supply these to anyone under the age of 18, and those who do so can face prosecution and fines.

What can we do?

Reducing youth uptake of smoking requires us to change the adult world in which children grow up in. Parental smoking along with other significant adults smoking has a major influence on whether a young person starts smoking. Children who grow up in a home where one parent smokes are 60% more likely to start smoking themselves, if both parents smoke this risk is even greater. Protecting at-risk children requires a package of interventions that should be delivered synergistically.

• Promoting robust whole school smoke-free policies that reduce children’s exposure to smoking by adults.
• Use statutory RHSE curriculum to teach about the harms and legalities of smoking.
• Denormalising smoking and vaping as a coping mechanism or choice
• Schools can request to join the Smokefree School Gates initiative. 

Resources for young people

• Be Healthy Bucks offers advice and support to quit smoking. Although the service is not a specialist youth service, it can support young people over the age of 12 years who are motivated to quit smoking. Call 03332 300177 or visit the Be Healthy Bucks Website for more information.
• Quit smoking - Better Health - NHS (www.nhs.uk)  
• Visit ASH, a campaigning public health charity that works to eliminate the harm caused by tobacco. There is a range of resources and information that can be downloaded.
• For more information about health and wellbeing in Bucks, please visit Health and Wellbeing | Health and wellbeing
• Buckinghamshire’s Tobacco Control strategy