Smoking trends
- 31% of men (16-64) smoke – down from 1995 figure of 34%.
- 31% of women (16-64) smoke – down from 1995 figure of 36%.
- 26% of women smoke in early pregnancy – down from 29% in 1995.
- About 6% of 13 year olds and 19% of 15 year olds are regular smokers
- smoking prevalence in 15 year olds has decreased since its peak in 1996 (30%) but only among boys is this statistically significant.
- 70% of smokers are in lower socio-economic groups, with people in the most deprived areas being more than twice as likely to smoke than those in most affluent – 41% compared to 18%.
- Smoking rates particularly high among socially-excluded groups – 82% of homeless people and 98% of female problem drug users in Glasgow were found to be smokers.
- In low income groups, smoking rates are highest amongst lone mothers, with over 60% beginning their pregnancies as smokers.
Scottish Household Survey 2003. Information Services Division NHSScotland 2003. Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS) National Report 2002.