Smoking and health inequalities
There is a strong link between cigarette smoking and socio-economic group. Smoking has been identified as the single biggest cause of inequality in death rates between rich and poor in the UK. Smoking accounts for over half of the difference in risk of premature death between social classes.
Death rates from tobacco are two to three times higher among disadvantaged social groups than among the better off.
Long-term smokers bear the heaviest burden of death and disease related to their smoking. Long term smokers are disproportionately drawn from lower socio-economic groups. People in poorer social groups who smoke, start smoking at an earlier age: of those in managerial and professional households, 31% started smoking before they were 16, compared with 45% of those in routine and manual households.
Health inequality is an area ASH is very committed towards addressing.
LAA Letter
Text of a letter sent by four organisations urging local planners to include smoking reduction as a 'stretch target' as part of their Local Area Agreements.Local Area Agreements
Smoking prevelance is a key indicator not just for smoking-related diseases but also for health inequalities. This joint ASH-CIEH briefing note explains why Local Strategic Partnerships need to be encouraged to adopt smoking prevalence as one of their stretch targets in their Local Area Agreements.
Smoking and Health Inequalities: factsheet
Summary of the link between smoking and health inequalities with facts, charts and statistics that show that tobacco dependence is truly a disease of the poor.
Smoking and deprivation in England: Map (External Web Page)
Interactive Map by ASH (part funded by Cancer Research UK) that show smoking prevalence and deprivation, by ward, across England.
How was the map developed?
Explanation of how the Smoking and deprivation in England: ASH mapping project was developed. Includes information about the data, the application and the mapping
How to use the map
Explanation about how to use the Smoking and Deprivation in England Map: ASH mapping project
ASH Research Report on: Health Inequalities (Purchase Hard Copy £5.00)
Overview of the link between smoking and health inequalities with facts, charts and statistics which show that tobacco dependence is truly a disease of the poor.
Department of Health: Tackling health inequalities - 2007 Status Report (External Web Page)
Tackling health inequalities: 2007 Status Report on the Programme for Action
The status report provides a review of developments against the data since the publication of the Programme for Action in 2003. It highlights the challenging nature of the health inequalities PSA target for 2010.
Department of Health "health inequalities" page (External Web Page)
Department of Health's response to health inequalities.
Latest Archived Items - access the rest of the archive here
Tackling health inequalities - 2002 cross cutting government review (External Web Page)
Tackling health inequalities is a top priority for the Government. This cross-cutting review in 20002 was set up to assess progress and agree priorities for future action. The review recognises smoking as a major cause of health inequalities.
Annual report of the Chief Medical Officer 2001 (External Web Page)
Chapter 2 reviews measures to tackle health inequalities. It includes a summary of government targets, current initiatives and recommendations for future action. December 2001
ASH response to Government consultation: Tackling Health Inequalities:
A joint ASH and Health Development Agency (from 2005 called the National Institute of Clinical Excellence) summary of the facts and statistics related to smoking and health inequalities
