Turning off the tap of new smokers - programme overview
A priority of Fresh is to help break the cycle of today's children becoming a new generation of smoking casualties on North East hospital wards.
Its a fact that eight out of ten smokers start in childhood - long before they can make an adult decision about smoking. A survey of smokers in the North East found the average age of starting was just 15.
Smoking is big business. The cigarette industry needs a flow of new customers to replace those who succesfully quit or die from smoking. And the supply of cheap, illegal tobacco being sold on the streets and estates of the North East bypasses age of sale laws and means more children and young people getting hooked.
The tobacco industry spends tens of millions of pounds on trying to get new customers. Mums, dads and grandparents who want to protect their children from tobacco promotion are being urged to show their support by signing up in support of plain, standardised packaging. All signatures will be fed through to a national consultation.
The good news is that continued efforts to tackle smoking are paying off. The prevalence of regular smoking among 11 to 15 year olds has halved since its peak in the mid 1990s – 13% in 1996 down to 6% in 2009. However, the figures show that in the North East, girls are far more likely to smoke than boys. To see regional breakdowns, click on Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England, findings by region-2006-2008
It is estimated that, every year, around 200,000 children and young people start smoking in England nationally , while children who live with parents or siblings who smoke are around 90% more likely to become smokers themselves than children of non-smoking households.
Other influences include tobacco advertising which fosters positive attitudes towards smoking. There is also a growing body of evidence suggesting that teenagers may also be influenced by viewing smoking in films. There is also strong association between smoking and other substance use. FOr more details on why children start, click here:
Fresh is committed to working with partners to reduce the supply of illegal tobacco and the availability of legal tobacco to children through a number of programmes and awareness-raising activities.