Worcestershire Smoking Rates Drop by a Third in One Year
The number of adult smokers in Worcestershire has plummeted by a remarkable 33% in just 12 months, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics. In 2024, only 7.5% of adults in the county were smokers, down significantly from 11.2% in 2023. This reduction represents over 19,000 people quitting the habit in a single year, placing Worcestershire’s smoking rate 2.9% below the national average for England.
Lisa McNally, the county’s Director of Public Health, attributes this success to a shift in strategy. Moving away from “finger-wagging” and scare tactics like graphic imagery, the council has focused on making quitting easy and accessible. “We tell people ‘if you want to quit, we’re here to make it easy for you’,” McNally explained. The council has invested heavily in universal support services, offering expert advice and free vapes or e-cigarettes to aid cessation.
The positive trend extends to expectant mothers as well. Smoking during pregnancy dropped by nearly a quarter, with 6.3% of mothers smoking at delivery in 2024/25, compared to 8.3% the previous year. Claire Mitchell, leading public health work on pregnancy, noted that support is readily available via midwives and family hubs, helping to overcome the stigma often associated with smoking while pregnant. Looking ahead, the council plans to launch a new WhatsApp-based behavioral support program in the New Year to further assist residents.
- Read more: Humber & North Yorkshire Adult Smoking Rates Drop to Record Low
- Read more: York Achieves One of UK’s Lowest Smoking Rates at 6.7%
- News source: Number of smokers in Worcestershire falls by a third
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