Further information on smoking in Southwark

There is little information on the true prevalence of smoking in Southwark.  An estimate based on the Health Survey for England (2000-2002) adjusted to the characteristics of our population, suggests that about 31% of the adult population of Southwark smoke, compared with 26% nationally. 

The 2003 National Omnibus Survey showed that 36% of men and 34% of women in routine and manual occupations smoked, roughly twice the percentage who smoked in managerial and professional occupations – where about 15% smoke. Lone parents living in rented accommodation and receiving social security benefits have been found to have smoking rates in excess of 75%.

Just under 8% of Southwark women who gave birth in 2004/05 at either King’s College Hospital, Guys & St Thomas’ Hospital or University Lewisham Hospital were smokers at the time of delivery.  However, this is self-reported and may be an underestimate of the real percentage.

In 2005/06 1,982 Southwark residents attending on the NHS stop smoking services set a quit date to stop smoking.  Of these 937 (47%) had managed to successfully quit for 4 weeks.

Smoking and young people
Nationally 9% of children aged 11 to 15 years old smoke regularly – girls about 10%, boys about 8%. The rate is highest at age 15. Boy smokers tend to smoke more than girls.

Adjusting the national figures to fit our population suggests that about 1,300 children in Southwark are regular smokers.  

Southwark Public Health Directorate and the Healthy Schools Partnership have surveyed Years 8 and 10 pupils in five Southwark schools. At Year 8, 7% of boys and 9% of girls said they smoked occasionally or regularly. By Year 10 the figures were 5% and 17% respectively. Actual smoking rates are likely to be higher – particularly in year 10 boys. It is important to note that the schools sampled may not be representative of Southwark’s whole-school population.