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The Smokefree Alliance wishes you a Happy New Year.
This edition provides a review of the Smokefree Alliance work during 2022.
The Newsletter is an information source for professionals working with the Devon Smokefree Alliance to update on the work of the Alliance and recent evidence reviews.
Smoking prevalence is still a major concern in Devon but we have made progress compared to England and the wider South West.
- In Devon in 2017-2019 approximately 2934 people died due to a smoking-attributable mortality.
- In Torbay in 2017-19 approximately 699 people died due to a smoking-attributable mortality.
- Devon has a smoking attributable mortality rate, per 100,000 population, of 159.4 which is significantly lower than the South West average of 173.7, and England average of 202.2 smoking mortality rate.
- Torbay mortality rates are higher than the England average at 213.5 per 100,000 population.
- In Devon in 2019 - 2020 there were 8122 smoking attributable hospital admissions, with a rate of 1086 per 100,000 population, this is significantly lower than the South West rates of 1,300 per 100,000 and England 1,398 per 100,000 population rates[1).
- In Torbay 2019- 2020 there were 1,580 smoking attributable hospital admissions, with a rate of 1,529 per 100,000 population, which is higher than the England average.
- Whilst county-wide prevalence of smoking has fallen over the last 10 years from 20.0% in 2011 to 11.6% in 2021, in Devon and 19.2% in 2011 to 15.4% in 2019 In Torbay, there are some variation in rates in the most recent years of reporting
(Source: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities OHID, Local Tobacco Control Profiles)
[1] Smoking attributable hospital admissions, 2019-2020, OHID Fingertips, Local Tobacco Control Profiles - Data - OHID (phe.org.uk)
[2] Smoking Prevalence in adults (18+) - current smokers (APS), 2021, Local Tobacco Control Profiles - Data - OHID (phe.org.uk)
OneSmallStep has a multi-skilled team with a wealth of knowledge and experience in Public Health.
OneSmallStep offer Making Every Contact Count, (MECC,) training, this is a "Healthy Conversation Skills" training, for healthcare professionals. The training is designed to support learners to develop an understanding of public health and how having healthy conversations is everyone’s role.
Rather than telling people what to do, MECC is about recognising opportunities to talk to people about their wellbeing using the skills of asking and listening.
They also provide a range of resources accessible from their website Onesmallstep Training Resources
New MECC Training Dates
- 18 January 2023, 10.00 to 13.00
- 21 Febuary 2023, 10.00 to 13.00
- 7 March 2023, 12:30 to15.30
To book a place please use the following link: Book here
Very brief advice (VBA) can be carried out by anyone. It can take as little as 30 seconds and is known to be powerful when carried out by a health professional. Asking about smoking and being able to signpost a smoker to a local Stop Smoking Service is recommended for all who come into contact with smokers through their work.
The National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training - (NCSCT) offer Free Very Brief Advice Training (VBA ) via this link
e-learning online module
There have been three meetings in 2022 which had covered a wide range of issues. All meetings have been virtual since the start of COVID though attendance at the meetings has been maintained.
Asthma Control Bundle;
The national bundle of care for children and young people with asthma is the first phase of a plan to support integrated care systems to deliver high quality asthma care. The UK has one of the highest rates of asthma in children and young people (CYP) hospital admissions and death rates in Europe. Living in a household with a smoker can increase the risks to children. Phase One of the bundle has now been rolled out across England, with a key aim of preventing avoidable deaths, reducing hospital admissions, and improving the overall quality of life for CYP with Asthma. National bundle of care
Core20PLUS5 – An Approach to Reducing Health Inequalities
Core20PLUS5 is a national NHS England and NHS Improvement approach to support the reduction of health inequalities at both national and system level. The approach defines a target population cohort – the ‘Core20PLUS’ – and identifies ‘5’ focus clinical areas requiring accelerated improvement. Smoking cessation positively impacts on all 5 key clinical areas.
Flow Chart to Explain CORE20 PLUS5 pathways
KHAN review
This significant independent review into the government’s current tobacco control policies, led by Dr Javed Khan OBE, looks into whether government will achieve its ambition to make England smokefree by 2030.
- The Faculty of Public Health welcomes the independent report “Making Smoking Obsolete” by Dr. Javed Khan OBE, and urges Government to take immediate action to implement the report’s recommendations. Drastically reducing smoking rates is one of the most effective public health interventions that Government can deliver to ‘level-up’ health and reduce inequalities. Khan Review
National Institute fo Health and Care Excellence (NICE) 209 Update;
- About 1 in 7 adults smoke in the UK. Smoking is still the leading cause of illness and death. It increases the risk of many serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and lung disease. About 78,000 people in England die each year from Smoking. Recommendations-on-treating-tobacco-dependence
- The current Smokefree Alliance Devon Strategy is valid from 2018 to 2023;
- Smoking or tobacco dependence is still the biggest cause of preventable disease and premature death in Devon. It is also a significant driver of health inequalities within the County, with rates remaining higher within some of our most vulnerable groups. The Smokefree Alliance Devon strategy emphasises the importance of an integrated, collaborative approach to support our communities to be smokefree, so that health inequalities caused by smoking can be reduced. Smoke Free Alliance Strategy 2018-2023
The New Smokefree Alliance Devon Strategy 2023 to 2028.
We are currently developing the new strategy which will run from 2023-2028. If you have any comments or would like to have a voice and support the development of this important document please contact publichealth-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
Smokefree Alliance Devon Website
We are reviewing and updating our website to improve it as a source for professionals. Welcome to Smokefree Devon - Smokefree Alliance Devon
Any comments on how the website could be improved are welcome please send comments to publichealth-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
The newsletters will be shared on our www.smokefreedevon.org.uk/ website to be accessible to all in the future. Alliance newsletter - Smokefree Alliance Devon (smokefreedevon.org.uk)
Photo of assorted vapes
Vaping Updates
Litter concerns from disposable vaping products
The evolving youth use of e-cigarettes in Britain is monitored using the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), Smokefree Great Britain survey of 11 to 18 year olds 2013 to 2022, in the context of changes in tobacco use and the regulation of e-cigarettes. ASH Survey e-cigarettes-use in young people
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) resources for Local Authorities, Schools, Parents and Carers;
- ASH recently released guidance for schools and colleges to help Designated Safeguarding Leads and others develop consistent, evidence-based policies on vaping. Schools infomation on vaping
- ASH briefing for local authorities on youth vaping is designed for public health officials and trading standards officers, but also contains useful information for councillors, schools, parents and retailers.
- Youth Vaping Infomation for local authorities
Vaping in Schools Letter
- The Smokefree Alliance Devon, were approached by some Devon Schools who reported an increase in vaping among young people. The vapes can look like highlighter pens or USB sticks so they are hard to identify. The Devon Smokefree Alliance produced a guidance letter for schools, to give advice and support for teachers and parents.
- The letter was shared between schools in Torbay and Devon. A press release to raise awareness of vaping concerns in young people was shared in Devon Live. Alarm as children aged seven caught vaping in Devon schools
- The Guardian on Sunday interviewed Steve Brown, Director of Public Health Devon, for an article focused on the advertising and use of vapes in children. selling E-cigarettes to children
Vaping In Children and Young People
- Vaping is not for children. Whilst they can help adults to quit smoking, the message is clear "if you don’t smoke don’t vape".
- The evolving youth use of e-cigarettes in Britain is monitored using the ASH Smokefree GB survey of 11–18-year-olds 2013-2022, in the context of changes in tobacco use and the regulation of e-cigarettes.
- It is an offence to sell e-cigarettes to children under 18 in the United Kingdom. In 2022, 7.0% of 11–17-year-olds were current users, compared to 3.3% in 2021 and 4.1% in 2020.
- Uptake of vaping has a distinctive age profile. Curriculum design should reflect this. The key ages for take up are 16, 17 and particularly 18, although it can occur earlier.
- It is illegal to sell cigarettes or nicotine containing vapes to under-18s, or by them on their behalf, but it is not illegal to smoke or vape underage and punishment should be proportionate
- National Institute fo Health and Care Excellence, (NICE) Guidance 209 - recommendations aim to prevent children, young people and young adults from taking up smoking. They cover anti-smoking mass-media and digital campaigns, measures to prevent tobacco being sold to and bought for children and young people, and prevention interventions in educational settings. Recommendations on preventing uptake of smoking in young people
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Photo of a vape and its packaging.
- Cigarette butt litter is a poisonous problem. Cigarette butts make up one-third of all litter in the UK and can be found on 99 per cent of town centre streets. reducing cigarette butt litter
- However waste from E-cigarettes are causing additional waste issues.
- Around 7.1% of the UK’s population uses e-cigarettes purchasing a staggering half a billion units per year, three million of which are thrown away each week.
- E-cigarettes (commonly called ‘vapes’) usually consist of a lithium-ion battery, a tank, and a coil to vaporise the e-liquid and once disposed are classified as waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) under UK law.
- We lose 10 tonnes of lithium each year when ‘disposable’ single-use vapes are simply thrown away. That lithium could make batteries for whole fleets of electric cars.
- Currently, disposable (single-use) vapes make up at least half of the e-cigarette market. The description ‘disposable’ may suggest the devices are as convenient to discard as they are to buy, however, all small WEEE devices must be sent for separate recycling, which is often best achieved through a trip to the local recycling centre. e-cigarettes waste needs a big solution
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Smokers were encouraged to quit this Stoptober
Stoptober encouraged smokers in England to join the 2.5 million others who have made a quit attempt with the campaign since it launched a decade ago in 2012. Nearly 6 million adults in England still smoke, and it remains the single biggest behavioural cause of preventable death, with 64,000 deaths a year.
OneSmallStep’s Stoptober campaign included 18 pop-ups in target communities and a social media campaign with informative posts telling people where we would be, the benefits of quitting smoking, tips on quitting, explanations about nicotine dependence and Nictotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) as well as success stories and pictures of the team at our stop smoking pop ups offering tips We worked closely with our partners in maternity services, Devon Partnership Trust and community organisations sharing social media and collaborating on our pop ups.
We saw 133 people setting quit dates for Stoptober, this is more than any other month this year. Stoptober is over but its not to late to stop, using support and help.
If you want to find out more or quit.
Contact your relevant healthy lifestyles organisation:
Devon County Council Residents:
OneSmallStep Healthy Lifestyle Service
https://onesmallstep.org.uk/
01392 908139
Torbay Council Residents:
Torbay Healthy Lifestyle Service
tsdft.uk/lifestyles
0300 456 1006
Plymouth City Council Residents:
One You Plymouth
One You Plymouth | Become a healthier you
01752 437177
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