Stamping out smoking by the young

MORE than 20 per cent of adults in Warrington smoke – with young women more likely to smoke than young men.
“World No Tobacco Day” has given the borough council and NHS Warrington an opportunity to flag up the town’s tobacco control strategy, which aims to reduce the number of young people who start smoking, protect families and communities from tobacco-related harm and help every smoker to quit.
Several initiatives have been developed with the aim of reducing the uptake of smoking among young women, including a “peer mentoring” system for high schools across the borough to raise awareness of the harms of tobacco.
Plans are also under way to set up a young person’s advocacy group led by young people, to look at how the tobacco industry specifically targets young women to take up the habit.
Any smoker who would like help to quit should call the local Stop Smoking Service for free help and support on 01925 843713.