Tobacco control and smoking cessation

In September 2008, DrugScope responded to a Department of Health consultation on tobacco control, following consultation with DrugScope members and other key stakeholders through an expert seminar and an on-line survey.

Our central message was that there is strong support from our members for the Government's focus on reducing smoking-related health inequalities by targetting the most socially excluded and marginalised groups.

We wanted to see a clear recognition by the Department of Health that smoking and smoking-related harm are exceptionally high among users of drug treatment services. We urged the Government to give close and detailed consideration to the potential role of the drug treatment sector in reducing smoking-related harm and contributing to a reduction in health inequalities.