The number of smokers aged 16+ in England fell by approximately 350,000 in 2014 to an estimated 8.1 million, the fall being mostly driven by smoking cessation. Use of aids to cessation accounted for almost one third of the prevalence reduction.
Prevalence of anxiety and depression in long-term ex-smokers appears to be similar to what is found in never smokers.
In 2013, an estimated 1 in 8 smokers reported purchasing cigarettes or tobacco from a source that suggested it was illicit. This was a decline from the previous year. The weekly cost saving for those smokers averaged just over a £1 per week.
Non-daily smoking remains rare in England and cigarette consumption is the equivalent of more than 5 per day. Non-daily smokers mostly do not report smoking for social reasons.
The mean CO-verified 4-week quit rate increased and variability decreased from immediately before to three years after establishment of the NCSCT. While other factors may have led, or contributed, to this change, the figures are consistent with the NCSCT having begun to meet its primary aim. It will be important to continue to monitor the Stop Smoking Service figures to assess the impact of changes taking places in the delivery of stop smoking support.
A considerable proportion of practitioners appears to not be aware of the outcomes of their clinical practice. Practitioners registered for training, who believe they can report success rates of clients’ quit attempts, report them reasonably accurately.
Cigarette smoking prevalence in England has declined at significantly different rates in different parts of the country in the past 6 years; not all of the difference can be accounted for by changes in demographic factors.