A new report speaks about the terrible impact vape shop closures and increased difficulty in accessing smoking cessation services have had during lockdown. It estimates that over half a million more people are now smoking – despite Action on Smoking and Health previously claiming “record numbers” had quit.
It is reported that the largest rise was in the 18 to 24 age group as around 600,000 adults started smoking again, bucking a 40-year declining trend. Factors influencing this are said to be unemployment stress and poor mental health experienced as a result of the lockdowns.
Richard Sloggett used to be one of Matt Hancock MP’s advisors. He said the findings mean the government will have to take “drastic and immediate action” in a report produced by Future Health.
Sloggett said: “Our model indicates that as a result of the pandemic there could be up to 600,000 additional smokers next year than originally forecast. This is due to wider population health impacts from the pandemic such as increased unemployment and mental health.
Dave Cross – Planet of the Vapes – 2021-05-18.
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