Category: Health and Wellbeing

If you’ve been trying forever or only just decided to give up, A Better Medway is hosting a free Stop Smoking drop in service by every Monday morning for the next eight weeks to help you.

Come and see them anytime between 10am-12noon during our Open Cafe.

Smoking remains one of the leading causes of preventable disease and death worldwide. While many people are aware that tobacco use is harmful, the true scale of its impact – on health, finances, and society – is often underestimated. Below are some key facts and figures highlighting the downsides of smoking.

Health Risks

• Leading cause of premature death: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco kills more than 8 million people annually, including over 1.3 million non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke.
• Cancer connection: Smoking is responsible for around 85% of lung cancer cases and is linked to at least 15 other cancers, including throat, bladder, and pancreas.
• Heart and lung disease: Smokers are 2 – 4 times more likely to develop coronary heart disease and 2 – 3 times more likely to have a stroke compared to non-smokers. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is also strongly tied to smoking.
• Life expectancy: On average, smokers die 10 years earlier than non-smokers.

Financial Costs

• Personal expense: A pack-a-day habit can cost thousands of pounds annually.
• Healthcare burden: Smoking-related illnesses cost the global economy billions in healthcare expenses and lost productivity.
• Lost productivity: Smokers are more likely to take sick days and retire early due to poor health, impacting both personal income and wider economic productivity.

Social and Environmental Impact

• Secondhand smoke: Exposure increases children’s risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), asthma, and respiratory infections.
• Cigarette waste: Cigarette butts are the most littered item in the world, with an estimated 4.5 trillion discarded each year. They contain plastic filters and toxic chemicals that pollute water and harm wildlife.
• Fire hazard: Smoking-related fires cause thousands of deaths annually and cost billions in property damage worldwide.

A Preventable Tragedy

While the figures are sobering, the good news is that quitting smoking dramatically reduces health risks. Within one year of quitting, the risk of heart attack drops sharply. After 10 years, the risk of dying from lung cancer is cut in half compared to a continuing smoker.

👉 In short: Smoking remains one of the most destructive yet preventable public health issues. It shortens lives, drains finances, burdens healthcare systems, and harms the environment – but quitting can reverse much of the damage.

Image by JCamargo