Understanding Smokers

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Why people start smoking
The majority of adult smokers began smoking as teenagers. Many factors influenced their decision. Children are three times as likely to smoke if both their parents are smokers. Role models and advertising influence teenagers who may see smoking as a way of asserting their identity.

Nicotine addiction
Nicotine is a highly addictive drug, which reaches and stimulates the brain within 8 seconds of being inhaled.

People who begin smoking rapidly find themselves addicted to the nicotine in cigarettes and they experience unpleasant physical and mental withdrawal symptoms if they try to stop.

Over time tolerance occurs which leads the smoker to need more cigarettes to relieve withdrawal symptoms.

The World Health Organisation has classified nicotine addiction as a disease. The essential features of addiction include:

• Compulsive use of a substance - not a voluntary action
  
• Tolerance - increasing dose to achieve the same effect
  
• Physical dependence - unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when use of the substance is stopped

Behavioural patterns
In addition to nicotine addiction, strong behavioural patterns reinforce the smoking habit. Over time, smokers build up strong associations with smoking and their daily routines for example after a meal, having a coffee, or taking a break.

People also tend to smoke more at particular times or in particular places such as pubs or at social events. Smoking also becomes linked with emotional states and so people may smoke in response to stress, boredom, or even to celebrate.

Who smokes?
There are about 12 million adult cigarette smokers in Great Britain and another three million who smoke pipes and/or cigars.

More people in the 20-24 age group smoke and those employed in routine or manual occupations are more likely to smoke.

Adult Smoking Rates
Age Smoking rate %
16 - 19 years 31%
20 - 24 years 40%
25 - 34 years 35%
35 - 49 years 30%
50 - 59 years 27%
Over 60 years 16%

How smokers feel about smoking
Smoking is less socially acceptable now than it was in the past. Smokers themselves are becoming increasingly self-conscious as they recognise the non-smoking norm - particularly in the wake of restrictions on smoking at work and in public places.

Smoking rates are much higher amongst people on lower incomes. Therefore, the people who can least afford to smoke are spending an high proportion of their income on cigarettes. Manual workers are much more likely to work for employers who allow smoking at work and this makes it much harder for them to quit.

Despite all the convincing arguments in favour of quitting and the fact that over 70% of smokers want to quit, many find it difficult to stop. They will often find reasons for delaying a quit attempt, introducing a workplace no-smoking policy often provides them with the lever they need to finally conquer their addiction. Some smokers don't quit because they fear that they will be unable to cope without cigarettes but there is now a range of effective stop treatments available on prescription and a UK-wide network of successful, friendly, confidential, professional NHS Stop Smoking Services available to help smokers who want to quit. Details will be provided to any smoker or employer who calls the NHS Stop Smoking Helpline and requests details of their local service. Telephone 0800 169 0 169