Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body and causes serious harm to the health of both smokers and non-smokers. Many preventable illnesses such as cancer, heart and lung disease, which result in premature deaths are primarily caused by smoking. 72% of lung cancer cases in the UK are caused by smoking. Smoking in pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth and low birth-weight as well as linked to increased risk of sudden infant death after birth. Smoking is a major risk factor for impotence in men and in women it is associated with an increased risk of early natural menopause in women.
Whilst vaping is less harmful than smoking cigarettes and can help smokers to quit, there is an emerging concern around long term impacts of vaping particularly among young people -driven by concerted marketing and proliferation of outlets selling illicit and disposable vapes. Long term risks of vaping are not yet clear (NHS).
Please refer to section 1 of our draft strategy for more information and references.
