The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: During the past twenty years the number of people who smoke has fallen from 35% to 27%. However, this fall in cigarette consumption has occurred mainly within the higher income groups. Smoking prevalence is greatest amongst the most disadvantaged groups in the UK. Within these communities, smoking currently stands at twice the national rate. The evidence suggests that smoking rates are particularly high amongst those unemployed and amongst young adults with families especially lone parents, which are now a quarter of all British families – a group most likely to be in poverty.

Methods: QUIT developed the Lone Parent programme – a series of guides and training courses designed for the many people working to provide lone parents with help in facing day-to-day challenges. Lone parents can face many challenges that make it difficult to stop smoking such as poverty, social and environmental pressures, negative stereotyping and isolation. The resulting depression and anxiety may make it more difficult to face the challenges of withdrawal from tobacco. In particular, depression appears to be a key issue in relapse. Women may depend more strongly on tobacco for mood control and a sense of identify. Smoking itself can become a mechanism for social isolation and exclusion.

Results: The evaluation of the Lone Parent Programme showed success. QUIT was able to enable those trained to identify positive reasons and ways to help lone parents move on – to take more control and possession of their lives and move on towards the point where they can leave cigarettes behind them.