Smoking

"Smoking is the principal cause of the inequalities in death rates between rich and poor. Put simply, smoking is a public health disaster"
Alan Milburn
(then) Secretary of State for Health
 
Smoking is the single greatest cause of illness and premature death through heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and asthma. Imagine a catastrophic plane crash in this country, killing 300 people, EVERY DAY.
In the South East smoking is responsible for:

• A quarter of deaths in people aged 35-64
• The admission to hospital of over 44,000 people with smoking related conditions in 2003/4 with an estimated cost to the health service of around £238 million
• The loss of £370 million a year to businesses through related sick days and an estimated economic cost of £1.2 billion a year from cigarette breaks
• The estimated economic cost of smoking related fires almost £15.5 million a year

In Portsmouth around 30% of people still smoke. A survey in 2003 found that a staggering 29% of pregnant women smoked. Smoking levels are higher in the poorer areas of the city, contributing to a 12-year difference in life expectancy between the heart of Portsmouth and some of the more affluent wards.
 
HIDS support people aiming to give up smoking. We campaign to discourage young people from taking up smoking through working directly with children in schools and other youth settings, and support the smoke free legislation.
 
For more information and help quitting see these pages:
 
The Scary Stuff
Why Quit?
Some Facts About Stopping
Top Ten Tips for Stopping
Secondhand Smoke
Smoke Free Portsmouth