(Image: PA)
Smoking in the North East has fallen to a record low, with the region recording England’s biggest drop in smoking rates over the past two decades, according to new figures.
Only 9.7 per cent of adults in the North East now smoke, according to the latest Office for National Statistics Annual Population Survey.
That is down from 10.2 per cent in 2024, but remains slightly above England’s 9.5 per cent average.
Ailsa Rutter OBE, director of Fresh and Balance, said: "Back in the late 90s and early noughties, some thought it unthinkable that we would see smoking rates fall to below 10 per cent in the North East.
But when Fresh launched in 2005, we had a bold ambition that we would make smoking history and that we could achieve a major shift in the social norms around smoking. We knew how vital this was and since then smoking in our region has now fallen by around two-thirds – the largest reduction of any region in England."
In 2005, 29 per cent of North East adults smoked – the highest rate in England at the time.
Smoking rates have since fallen 66.6 per cent, after two decades of public health work and collaboration.
Fresh, local authorities, hospital trusts and the North East and North Cumbria NHS Integrated Care Board have backed a smokefree future.
Smoking during pregnancy has also fallen, with the North East and North Cumbria recording a record low of five per cent.
That is down more than 61 per cent from 13.1 per cent in 2020/21.
Ms Rutter said: "This latest reduction shows the real and lasting impact of keeping a consistent focus on our biggest cause of preventable death.
"By local authorities, the NHS, charities and key national partners such as the Department of Health and Social Care working together with Fresh we are demonstrating that things can change and this collaborative approach is paying off."
But Ms Rutter warned that the work is not over.
Ms Rutter said: "But there is still much more to do and no room for complacency as we recognise that rates are much higher in some communities and within some groups.
"We need to ensure everyone has access to effective quitting support and encouragement to give quitting a go, because it is never too late to stop.
"The good news is that there have never been so many ways to quit smoking."
She said smoking still drives health inequalities and chronic illness.
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Ms Rutter said: "Smoking is still driving 16 types of cancer, cardiovascular disease and COPD, adding pressure to the NHS, social care and our economy.
"We need sustained, combined action to prevent people from starting and to help more people who smoke to stop.
"The Tobacco and Vapes Act is a major step towards making smoking history for future generations, but there is much more to do."