Smokers aged nine in UK’s poorest town

The average age to start smoking in Britain's most deprived town is just nine, according to a National Health Service survey cited Thursday by The Sun.

But many are even younger. One boy got hooked aged three because his grandparents thought it was funny to give him cigarettes.

The shock findings came from Merthyr Tydfil, in South Wales -- blighted by few jobs, poor wages and dependence on state benefits.

"Unfortunately, it is realistic. I had a patient who started between two and three. His parents gave him cigarettes because they thought it was funny," researcher Tracey Bowen said.

The study was carried out after medics noticed the high number of tobacco-related illnesses in the former industrial town.

"These figures are truly alarming. Childhood smoking is quite rare -- less than one percent of people under 11 smoke regularly -- so this is unusual," said smoking expert and Birmingham University professor Paul Aveyard. "It is worrying, as you become more addicted to smoking the earlier you start. Starting younger is also associated with a higher risk of smoking-related diseases."

Merthyr, population 55,000, has one of the UK's lowest life-expectancy rates and one of the highest rates of people claiming health-related state benefits

Read more:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3457234/Smokers-take-up-habit-aged-9-on-average-in-UKs-poorest-town.html

2010 State of Tobacco Control Report

The American Lung Association has released its 2010 State of Tobacco Control report. Florida and Georgia both received F's in more than on category.

Resident Tommy Lewis kicked the habit years ago and says he never looked back."I smoked from the time I was 20 years old til about the time I was 30, and I quit about 20 years ago and have not smoked since. I put then down one day and never picked them back up" said Lewis.

The report says the economic cost of smoking in Georgia is just under 6 billion dollars while Florida comes in at more than 12 billion.

Florida and Georgia both received failing grades for Tobacco prevention and spending control. For Smoke-Free Air, Florida maintained its B average while Georgia maintained a C.

Non-smoker Sarah Bishop says, "I think it's an unhealthy habit. I've know a lot of people who have suffered health risks from it. I know my step day was told if he had another cigarette it would kill him."

The Lung Association report says more than 28-thousand deaths in Florida and more than 10-thousand in Georgia are related to smoking.

A total of eight states received all "F's" ... and while many received higher scores, no state on the report received all A's.

Thomas Carr who is the Director of National Policies for The American Lung Association says, "Georgia got three F's and a C and Florida got two F's and B and a D. I think Florida actually is a good example of where some of the policies are starting to have an impact."

Read More

http://www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/2010_State_of_Tobacco_Control_Report__114404204.html