How do you make a smoker quit smoking altogether? It is nearly impossible to make it happen unless they personally take on the challenge. The nicotine content in every stick makes them want to smoke even more. However, recent records show that the number of sticks smoked each year becomes less and less since 2011.
A research study funded by the Cancer Research UK and published in Jama Network Open journal, found that the average cigarette consumption dropped by nearly a quarter between the years 2011 and 2018, approximately reducing 118m cigarettes consumed every month.
The team of researchers from the University College London (UCL) examined the sales of the cigarettes and compared it to the monthly reports of cigarette use from its participants. The Smoking Toolkit Study has more than 135,000 registered participants.
The study reveals that the self-reported usage of cigarettes smoked declined by as much as 24.4%. This is backed up by the cigarette sales data collected on the same period with a decline of 24.1% within the average 7-year period of the study.
The authors of the study also found that there has also been a decline in the number of cigarette smokers by 15% within the same period. This only means that those who are still smoking are now smoking less.
The figures collected from the Office of National Statistics show that about 16% of the people who are within the age range of 16 and over who smoke are 16.7% men and 15.8% women. Dr. Sarah Jackson, lead author of the study said, "It is absolutely brilliant that over a billion cigarettes fewer are being sold and smoked in England each year." Studies as this play a vital role in the health and wellness program of the community.
"Knowing where we are helps us figure out what else needs to be done," she added.
The researchers included a discussion about what could be behind the decline in the number of smokers as well as the numbers of the cigarettes smoked. They found out that the stricter laws on the marketing and selling of tobacco, designed to encourage users to quit smoking, has indeed worked its wonders. Over the past 20 years, several laws have been passed concerning the selling, marketing and using of tobacco cigarettes.
Cancer Research UK expressed their happiness on the decline, though they admit that more needs to be done. They continue to urge tobacco companies to lessen the production and hopefully put it on a full stop.
