ABSTRACT
Smoking tobacco is a negative health behaviour which has been much examined in association with health inequalities. Smoking initiation and continuation is partly influenced by nicotine activating the brain’s reward pathway but is also heavily influenced by factors such as socioeconomic status, academic background and parental support. The World Health Organisation has stated that smoking is the world’s leading cause of preventable illness, impoverishment and death and in the United Kingdom, smoking-related deaths accounted for 19% of all deaths in 2009. Studies suggest members of deprived populations are less likely to access smoking cessation services, less likely to quit smoking and suffer higher levels of harm.
This chapter explores further:
Smoking in areas of deprivation, environmental influences, health risks and inequalities seen.
The impact of smoking on health including smoking in pregnancy.
Smoking cessation, availability and effectiveness in areas of deprivation and practical suggestions for practice.
