Cigarette smoking is the world’s leading cause of preventable poor health and premature death. This is why the Scottish Government aim is to create a tobacco free generation by 2034. (Scottish Government, 2023)
The latest figures show that, in Scotland, tobacco use is associated with over 8,000 deaths (one in five deaths) and around 100,000 hospital admissions each year. (Ash Scotland, 2023)
Smoking prevention resources
The following resources may be helpful with smoking prevention:
- Scotland’s Charter for a Tobacco-free Generation (ASH Scotland) is an initiative to help reduce the harm caused by smoking and deliver a tobacco-free generation by 2034
- ASH Scotland have developed an educational pack for teachers providing lesson plans for tobacco and vaping
- Quit Your Way Ayrshire has developed lesson plans for Primary 5 and 6 on tobacco and vaping which are available to teachers via GLOW
- Quit Your Way staff can deliver training to staff working with children around tobacco and vaping
- The Scottish Government currently has a campaign on youth vaping.
- Our Trading Standards partners work across Ayrshire carrying out test purchasing for tobacco and electronic cigarettes/vapes and seize illicit tobacco and illegal vapes
If you would like more information on what we offer within Ayrshire and Arran or how you can work with us, please call us on our free phone helpline 0800 783 9132 or visit our Quit Your Way Facebook page.
Activities and training
Quit Your Way offers a variety of prevention activities and training aimed at children and young people from nursery through to further education. The purpose is to create an environment where young people choose not to smoke.
The majority smoking protection is national legislation, policies and campaigns. Some examples are:-
- the smoking ban, which was introduced in 2006 to protect people from the harms of second hand smoke
- smoke free cars
- smoke free grounds, such as hospitals and play zones
- #NotaFavour campaign
- #BEEFREE campaign
- trading Standards carrying out test purchasing of cigarettes
View Ayrshire and Arran’s Tobacco Action Plan 2021-2024 for more details.
If you would like more information and what we offer within Ayrshire and Arran please call us on our free phone helpline 0800 783 9132.
Health Information and Resources Service (HIRS)
NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s Health Information and Resources Service (HIRS) provides access to a wide range of health promotion materials to professionals and the public.