More Wealthy Young Women Are Smoking

A recent study has revealed a concerning trend in smoking rates among women under 45 from more advantaged social backgrounds in England. Between 2013 and 2023, smoking rates in this demographic increased from 12% to 15%, while rates among less advantaged women in the same age group declined from 29% to 22%. The research, which analyzed data from 197,266 adults, indicates that the overall decline in smoking among adults flattened during the pandemic, with pregnant women being the only group where smoking rates were on the rise. Lead author Dr. Sarah Jackson from University College London (UCL) expressed alarm at the findings, noting that the increase in smoking among this specific group is particularly troubling. The study utilized data from the Smoking Toolkit Study, which conducts monthly interviews with a representative sample of 1,700 adults in England. Senior author Dr. Sharon Cox highlighted the unclear reasons behind the rise in smoking among more advantaged women, suggesting that financial pressures may have less impact on this group compared to their less advantaged counterparts. The study also noted a shift towards cheaper hand-rolled cigarettes, especially among less advantaged female smokers, with 68% opting for this method by 2023. Alizee Froguel, Cancer Research UK's prevention policy manager, emphasized the urgent need for decisive political action to combat smoking, which remains the leading cause of cancer and death in the UK. She called for robust measures to prevent smoking initiation and improve access to cessation services for current smokers.