Teenagers can get addicted to the nicotine in cigarettes and vapes much faster than adults do, and NHS Lanarkshire’s Quit Your Way team has also revealed that the earlier a person starts to smoke, the more health damage it causes and the harder it is to quit.
To raise awareness of these dangers, the health board is reaching out to the minority of adults who may believe they are “doing a favour” by buying their teenage friends or family cigarettes or vapes when they’re under 18.
As part of the project, NHS Lanarkshire has teamed up with North and South Lanarkshire Councils, to support ASH Scotland’s #NotAFavour campaign.
Karen Mather, Tobacco Control team leader, NHS Lanarkshire, said: “Protecting children and young people from the health issues that arise from smoking tobacco or vapes, is a key focus of our work.
“Smoking can lead children and young people to nicotine addiction, ill health and money worries but it’s also illegal to buy tobacco or vapes on behalf of under 18s, therefore, by supporting this campaign and raising awareness of #NotAFavour, we’re working towards protecting children and young people from harmful products and reducing purchases of tobacco and vapes for under 18s.
“Although most people would not buy these products for children, surveys of young people show that this is the most common way they get a hold of their cigarettes and vapes, and we hope that by raising awareness of these implications, that adults who are purchasing on behalf of under 18s reconsider.”
Jordan Griffin, aged 17 from Bellshill, said: “I appreciate some adults think they’re looking out for us by buying me and my friends cigarettes and vapes from the shop, but in the long run it’s actually doing more damage to our health and finances.”
Eamonn McCarron, trading standards assistant manager, North Lanarkshire Council, said: “North Lanarkshire Council’s Trading Standards service works closely with NHS Lanarkshire to discourage young people from taking up smoking.
“It’s illegal to buy tobacco or vapes on behalf of under 18s, and we’re committed to keeping children and young people safe by developing initiatives that prevent young people from becoming nicotine dependent including working with shops to ensure that staff ask for identification to check the customer’s age before making a sale.”
Quit Your Way is a free NHS Lanarkshire stop smoking service. To find out more about the stop smoking services and to access the best support to quit in your area, call the Quit Your Way helpline service on 0800 84 84 84 or visit QuitYourWay.scot.
Quit Your Way can be contacted Monday – Friday from 9am until 5pm.
You can also visit your local Community Pharmacy for FREE stop smoking support