Smoking Rate is up among Young Adults

Published on January 12, 2009 7:01 AM

In Scotland a third of young adults smoke cheap cigarettes. In 2004 the number of young smokers in Scotland had fallen to just 25% but in 2007 it raised. The government said that it is needed for much more anti-smoking steps for reducing the number of young smokers to less than 23% by 2012. The National Health Service (NHS) from Scotland and Scottish Public Health Observatory study revealed that in the 16 to 19 age group, females are more likely to smoke - while the highest rates are found among young offenders.

They found also that in the 16-19 age groups, young women generally have higher smoking rates than young men. But in the 20-24 age groups, male rates exceed female rates. In 2006 were studied 166,000 young adults from Scotland and they found that 28% of 16-24 year olds were regular smokers. Some specific groups in the population have much higher smoking rates than the average. Four in five young offenders smoke - 2000 young adults - and two thirds of care leavers - 1000 young people a year. In general scientists found that large employment sectors had higher numbers of smokers and small employment sectors lower numbers.

Shona Robison, Public Health Minister, said: "We are committed to doing all we can to reducing smoking rates in Scotland - both by encouraging more smokers to quit and discouraging young people from starting in the first place. This report clearly demonstrates that firm action needs to continue for to make Scotland smoke-free.