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Smoking rates are declining rapidly in England

A recent smoking study indicates that smoking rates in England are declining at the fastest rate ever in over a decade.

According to the Smoking Toolkit Study conducted by the University College London, adult smoking rates in England dropped by 2.2 per cent from January to July 2019, equivalent to 200 fewer smokers each hour. Despite these encouraging trends, there are still millions across the country who continue to smoke.

The findings coincide with the return of the annual Stoptober campaign, which encourages smokers to attempt quitting smoking from October 1. The campaign has been successful in helping 1.9 million individuals to quit smoking to date. This year's campaign emphasises the benefits of ‘breaking up’ with cigarettes and asks smokers to re-evaluate their unhealthy relationship with smoking and eventually ‘split up’.

Jo Churchill, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care, said: "Thanks to our tough action on tobacco, smoking rates are falling faster than in years – presenting us with the real opportunity for a smoke-free society by 2030."


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