Research into the attitudes of callers shows that people find it particularly useful to talk to a counsellor. Smokers would have appreciated more support from a partner, family or friend. The survey confirms the need to focus on preventing people starting to smoke in the first place. A worldwide anti-tobacco strategy is needed to fight cigarette companies, according to the World Health Organisation. Advertising in the tobacco industry is at a relatively high level, at around 5 per cent of sales revenue, which is about 50 per cent higher than the average industry.
Most smokers start young.
In high-income countries, almost eight out of 10 begin in their teens. A study in the latest issue of Tobacco Control confirms the vulnerability of teen smokers, who were more likely to take up the habit if their favourite movie stars smoked. Some 632 teenagers from New England in the US were surveyed about their smoking habits. They were also asked to name their favourite movie star. The more a star portrayed smoking, the more favourably the adolescent viewed the habit.