People across Scotland invited to share successful quit smoking stories

People across Scotland who have successfully given up smoking in the last couple of years are being encouraged by ASH Scotland to share their stories about how they managed to quit. Scots who have stopped using tobacco are urged to share what motivated their quit smoking attempts and if they gave up through sheer personal…

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Scots urged to aim for a tobacco-free 2025 to improve physical and mental health

ASH Scotland is encouraging people across Scotland who smoke to aim for a tobacco-free 2025 to improve their physical and mental wellbeing. The health charity’s call is part of its campaign promoting NHS Scotland’s free, expert stop-smoking support services. Quitting smoking is one of the most impactful steps a person can take to lower their…

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ASH Scotland welcomes new report highlighting 12 per cent increase in quit smoking attempts supported by NHS Scotland

The number of Scots making quit smoking attempts with the help of NHS Scotland’s expert smoking cessation services rose to 30,314 in 2023/24, representing a 12.4% increase from 26,963 in 2022/23, according to an annual NHS Stop Smoking Services Scotland report published by Public Health Scotland. There was also a 5.9% rise in the numbers…

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Tobacco control expert challenges Scotland to dismiss industry interference and support only medically licensed quit smoking aids

A Senior Policy Advisor to the World Health Organization (WHO) is challenging Scotland to dismiss industry attempts at influencing health policy and uphold its evidence-based precautionary stance against recommending e-cigarettes to be used in quit smoking attempts. The call comes ahead of today’s (Tuesday 17 December) Health Committee scrutiny of the Scottish Government’s Tobacco and…

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ASH Scotland celebrates overwhelming backing for UK-wide Tobacco and Vapes Bill

ASH Scotland is offering the health charity’s thanks to the 415 cross party MPs who voted in favour of the UK Government’s four nations Tobacco and Vapes Bill after its second reading in the House of Commons tonight (Tuesday 26 November 2024). Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “With tobacco continuing to be…

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ASH Scotland calls for rapid progress of Tobacco and Vapes Bill measures, as decline in Scotland’s smoking rate stagnates

ASH Scotland is urging elected representatives at Westminster and Holyrood to make rapid progress with the recently introduced Tobacco and Vapes Bill, following the 2023 Scottish Health Survey figures published today (Tuesday 12 November 2024) showing a stagnation in the decreasing trend of Scotland’s national smoking rate and suggesting a widening of the smoking inequalities…

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Youth groups urged to join ASH Scotland’s Youth Conversations Hub

ASH Scotland is encouraging youth groups to join the charity’s new Youth Conversations Hub where learning and resources on smoking and vaping are being shared to enable young people to make confident, informed decisions to protect their long-term health. The hub will be hosting a series of in-person and online events in upcoming months to…

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ASH Scotland welcomes Tobacco and Vapes Bill’s strong measures to continue driving down tobacco use

ASH Scotland is welcoming the UK Government’s reintroduction of an extended UK-wide Tobacco and Vapes Bill today (Tuesday 5 November 2024) which can help Scotland make further strides towards becoming a tobacco-free society. Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “We welcome the strong measures proposed in this Tobacco and Vapes Bill to continue…

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Health experts set out vision as stark death toll from alcohol, tobacco and unhealthy food revealed

Four in five deaths in Scotland are caused by Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs), causing over 52,000 deaths in 2023 Estimates show that more than one fifth of these deaths are caused by alcohol, tobacco and unhealthy food and drinks Health campaigners set out a long-term vision to improve health by limiting influence of companies promoting health-harming…

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ASH Scotland welcomes confirmation that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will be introduced before Christmas

ASH Scotland is today (Monday 21 October 2024) welcoming confirmation from the UK Government’s Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP, that the UK-wide Tobacco and Vapes Bill is being scheduled to be introduced before Christmas. Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “We welcome the UK Government’s confirmation that…

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