Introduction

Smoking remains the greatest preventable cause of ill health and premature death in Scotland today. Every year in this country 13,000 deaths can be attributed to tobacco-related diseases.

In Glasgow, on average, 37% of the population are smokers, with the rate rising to over 50% in some of the most socially deprived areas.

In the Greater Glasgow NHS Board area, smoking related in-patient episodes cost a staggering £14 million each year. Add to this the primary care costs of treating smoking-related illnesses (including management of chronic illness) and you can understand the severity of the burden.

Helping your patients to give up smoking is one of the most effective things you can do to improve their health and quality of life. Two thirds of smokers say that they would like to give up and with help and support, many will be successful! So it is important that at least once a year you are asking smoking patients if they have tought about quitting. 

This section of the website aims to provide a range of information which has been developed to meet the needs of health professionals and practitioners with an interest in smoking cessation and prevention.