Smoking is the leading cause of premature death in England, killing 74,600 people in 2019 alone.

However, smoking is also a leading cause of preventable illness – for every person killed by smoking, at least another 30 are estimated to be living with serious smoking-related disease and disability.

ASH analysis found that, on average, smokers in England need care when they are 63 years old, ten years earlier than never-smokers, and still of working age. Around 1.5 million people in England are estimated to need help with everyday tasks such as dressing, walking across a room and using the toilet due to smoking.

However, the significant sums spent by councils across the North West on social care needs caused by smoking each year, are not enough. Around 162,700 people in the North West are estimated to be receiving care from unpaid carers such as friends and family, while a further 66,800 people have care needs which are not met by paid or unpaid care

Stretched budgets prevent councils from being able to cover the additional £2 billion it would cost to meet the full demand for care in the North West .

Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), said:
“Smoking has a devastating impact on our communities far beyond the tens of thousands of lives it takes every year. It profoundly undermines the quality of many people’s lives, often placing heavy demands on family and friends.

“Securing the Government’s vision of a smokefree country by 2030 will make all the difference. It will ease pressure on the social care system and build resilience in our communities, enabling people to live longer, healthier lives.

“Local authorities have a key role to play in ending smoking, but they cannot do it without additional funding. ASH backs calls on the government to introduce a ‘polluter pays’ levy on tobacco manufacturers to pay for the support needed to end smoking in this country.”

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