The number of smokers trying to kick the habit in Scotland has soared by more than 6,000, according to annual statistics from the Scottish Government.
The figures, released yesterday, show that 50,121 people attempted to quit smoking in 2008 compared with 44,019 the previous year.
However, the national figures were not reflected in some health boards which experienced a fall in attempts to quit. The Scotland-wide figures, meanwhile, show almost 5% of attempts were made through NHS smoking cessation services – slightly more than the previous year – while almost half, 44%, where made through pharmacies.
Public Health Minister Shona Robison last night welcomed the statistics, saying smokers are more likely to quit by using NHS services.
She said: “Not everyone succeeds at their first attempt, but cessation services are there to support them as they become a non-smoker.”
Sheila Duffy, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) Scotland, called the figures “encouraging”.
She said: “Giving up smoking has both immediate and long-term benefits for smokers of any age and smoking cessation services are saving lives.
“Around 70% of smokers say they want to quit, so well-supported services must remain a priority.”
Liberal Democrat health spokesman and former smoker Jamie Stone MSP urged more people to use the smoking cessation services. He said: “It is encouraging that more and more people are making an attempt to stop smoking in Scotland.
“Figures show that success rates for those trying to quit is much higher when people use the NHS smoking cessation service.”
Health boards in the Highlands, Tayside and Western Isles all saw an increase in smokers trying to kick the habit. Orkney, Shetland and Grampian, however, experienced a fall.
A spokeswoman for NHS Grampian, which saw an 899 fall in people trying to quit, said the board was reviewing the services.
She added: “Previously, if clients set quit dates too early then dropped out, they were still counted on the national statistics. Now we have introduced ‘Week Zero’. Week Zero is an introductory week and allows for a cooling-off period, ensuring only the most motivated quitters continue to set a quit date.”